Patriots of Equestria, Part 1

Their chat with a witness to the bombings had a very strong impact on Starlight and her allies. As a matter of fact, all five of them were wondering if what Carnegie Deli said was indeed true or if he was just bluffing. However, one thing was for sure that the two Changelings who committed the atrocities were considered extremely dangerous.

"Perhaps maybe he was really telling the truth," sighed Sunset as they all walked from the deli. "If Carnegie Deli says that these kinds of Changelings are monsters, then we can't take them too lightly."

"We already are not taking them lightly," remarked Starlight. "It's clear to me already that these Changelings are not going to be reformed. Maybe Twilight was right about not everypony in Equestria wanting to listen and change their ways. But, I cannot help but wonder about something."

She then turned her attention over to Discord, who was disguised as a pony taxi to avoid suspicion. Starlight remembered what Twilight had told her about Discord being reformed and learning the magic of friendship. Yes, Trixie was reformed and not just because she was her best friend which was the only reason for doing so. Soon, they walked past the finish line, still being treated like a crime scene.

"Hey, freak show! This area is closed!" cried a police officer when Discord tried to cross into the area. "Go take another route!"

Insulted, Discord turned into a normal pony and blew a raspberry at the police officer before walking on the sidewalk.

"Well, I never!" huffed Discord in a shocked and disgusted tone. "Guess not everypony is willing to be friendly. But, at least I can get back to Fluttershy's side until she gets better."

"We'll all be happy to get some rest," yawned Trixie as they arrived back at the hospital. "The Great and Exhausted Trixie needs her sleep."

…

Arriving back at the hospital, they all went towards the rooms where the Princesses and Fluttershy were being kept. By now, they were all asleep, exhausted and drained after their near death experiences. Soon, Trixie and Sunset were asleep on the floor of the hospital while Discord was sleeping in Fluttershy's room, not wanting to leave her side. There was, however, only one pony who was still awake and that was Starlight. Furthermore, she wasn't alone.

"It's been a long day, Thorax," sighed Starlight in a quiet voice as she and Thorax looked out the window of the hospital room. "Do you think that maybe we will all get over this?"

"To be honest, Starlight," replied Thorax. "I don't know if it is going to be possible. I feel that there is going to be some backlash to improving our relationships with ponies to a degree. But, you have to believe me when I say that all of the Changelings were brainwashed by Chrysalis' warped beliefs. After what happened at the Royal Wedding, I dedicated myself to not listening to what she had to say anymore. Not all of us were born monsters, you know."

The fact that Thorax was one of those not born as monsters, was very striking to Starlight and it came to her mind that while Thorax was born with the body of a monster, his mind wasn't. In fact, Starlight could relate to Thorax in a way.

"I know what you mean," she said, walking over and sitting down on a chair not far from where Trixie was asleep. "I wasn't born a monster, but I became one…voluntarily. Because Sunburst got his cutie mark before me, I became a monster and ran a village where cutie marks were banned. But, thanks to interventions by Twilight and her friends, I gave up my dictatorship ways and was given a second chance."

Thorax walked over and joined Starlight right where she was sitting. Almost immediately, Thorax began to develop a much greater respect for Starlight and her actions that brought her to this point. After all, Starlight was there when he was defended by Spike at a moment when he could have been dealt with right then and there.

"Ever since then," sighed Starlight. "I've always believed that everypony who committed such acts deserves a second chance. When Chrysalis turned my offer down and swore revenge on me, I thought that…"

Starlight had to stop before she finished her sentence, her failure to reform Chrysalis still greatly fresh in her mind.

"Well, you see what I mean, Thorax," finished Starlight, letting out a false chuckle. "I guess that everypony can't be redeemed."

"You did what needed to be done, Starlight," reassured Thorax. "Chrysalis is beyond reasoning at this point and if she ever does decide to come back, then we'll have to deal with her according to Equestrian law. I cannot allow myself to tolerate such an atrocity from being carried out again. My friends were put in danger once and I will not allow them to be put in danger again."

Thorax then turned back to his injured friends fast asleep in their beds, but focused his attention on the still comatose Cadence and the sleeping Shining Armor sitting up, with his hoof in his wife's. Quietly walking over towards them, Thorax sighed as he felt a tear trickle down his eye. These were the ponies who had been convinced to take him in and give him sanctuary. Now, here they were, victims of an attack by creatures that Thorax was once part of.

…

Meanwhile, back in Canterlot, a large group of ponies clad in body armor and armed with spears, guns and everything but the kitchen sink were gathered in the throne room where Instant Justice stood before them.

"These are the Changelings that we are trying to find," he explained, pointing to the pictures of the ponies that Hopper and Thumper were disguised as. "They are considered to be armed and extremely dangerous and should be approached with extreme caution. If you have to use lethal force to end their reign of terror on Equestria, then so be it. Now, our objective to capture or destroy these creatures that attempted to assassinate our most beloved princesses."

Seeing some of the ponies with concerned looks on their faces, Instant Justice decided to make them understand why they were doing what they were doing.

"But, I know we all have families and friends who were at the marathon today," he said. "We've all seen the pictures of the wounded and the dead. And I can assure you all that this will be the greatest challenge of your lives since becoming a defender of our great land. I can assure you that Equestria will not stand for cowardly acts like this and we must not allow our own families to be sucked into the wrath that these Changelings possess. That will be all."

The ponies saluted Equestria's minister of justice and all departed the throne room, splitting up to being their search for Hopper and Thumper. However, one could only wonder where they were at that very moment…