Patriots of Equestria, Part 1

The shootout in the Crystal Empire between Hopper and the Royal Guardsponies had everypony rattled and shaken, both the ponies who fought Hopper and the pony citizens of the Crystal Empire itself. What was more, Starlight, Moon Dancer and Sunset were now left waiting for news about Discord and Trixie, who had been injured during the firefight and were now in emergency surgery. It took a while, but eventually a doctor came out with important news.

"I can tell you this that both of your friends have indeed sustained serious wounds," he said, taking off a surgical mask that he had around his face. "The beams from the Changeling did not hit any vital organs, but their ability to use magic will be extremely limited."

"At least they'll survive," remarked Sunset, taking a deep sigh of relief. "This didn't have to happen, Starlight. Why did we even take part in this to begin with?"

But, Starlight didn't answer Sunset's question right away and instead allowed the doctor to continue finishing what he had to say.

"Personally, I think that both of your friends should be moved to Canterlot hospital for extensive treatments," suggested the doctor. "They will survive their injuries, but it will be a long time before they can use their magic again."

"When do you think that they can be moved?" asked Starlight.

"Probably as soon as possible," sighed the doctor. "If they move to Canterlot hospital, then they can start their therapy and road to recovery quickly. They have the best therapy in Equestria for injuries such as this."

At that moment, the door to the operating room opening and they all saw Discord and Trixie being wheeled out on stretchers towards a large room. In fact, Starlight took and enormous gulp when she saw her best friend knocked out and injured in the neck.

"When can we see them?" asked Sunset.

"In a few hours when the anethestic's worn off," replied the doctor as they saw another stretcher bearing an injured guardspony being rolled into the operating room. "And there goes another one to be operated on. I hope that the scum who did this is captured or even killed if necessary. Excuse me."

And he left to get down to work on the next casualty. Now, Starlight, Sunset and Moon Dancer were left alone to wait for Trixie and Discord to wake up. As they waited however, they noticed Instant Justice sitting right outside the room where Discord and Trixie were in sighing heavily and in deep thought.

"Instant Justice?" wondered Starlight. "Is everything all right?"

"Just thinking that's all," he sighed, not paying attention to them. "About how hard I was on you four."

This to Starlight and her friends was a surprise to hear. For up until that moment, they thought of Instant Justice as a hard and cold protector of the peace. Now, for the first time, he was showing remorse and regret for his behavior.

"Why are you thinking this way?" wondered Sunset as they surrounded him. "You are responsible for maintaining law and order in Equestria."

"But, there are even times when officers of the law make mistakes," answered Instant Justice. "I was so swept up in finding these two Changelings that I failed to stop and think about what contributions you were trying to make to our cause. Furthermore, my son was one of the ponies who were injured in the bombings, so that kind of adds fuel to the fire."

"We're sorry to hear that, Instant Justice," sympathized Starlight. "And we know how dedicated you are to your job. I don't mean to get personal, but do you have any friends?"

Instant Justice was surprised to hear this and felt as if his personal space was being invaded.

"I do have friends," he said. "But, I'm so caught up in my job that I just don't have time for them, I'm afraid. I'm one of those ponies who put my goals ahead of friendship and now, I'm suffering the consequences for it."

"You are not alone," remarked Moon Dancer. "I was once like you, Instant Justice, a pony who would rather study than make friends."

"Us too," added Sunset. "We all have something in common and there are times where we need to fight to protect our friends without getting too literal or caught up. You did that and well, there is a chance for redemption. Let us help you and we can put an end to this together."

Realizing that what they were saying was true, Instant Justice agreed to let himself work with Starlight, Sunset and Moon Dancer. After all, the one who did this to Equestria was still on the loose and who knew exactly where he was heading next.

…

Later that same day, Thorax returned to Manehattan hospital to visit his injured friends and he was pleased to see that they were all recovering well from their injuries, especially Cadence who had now come out of her coma. Upon arrival at the hospital, he had learned of what happened in the Crystal Empire and was now discussing it with his wounded friends.

"One changeling dead and one still at large," sighed Shining Armor, clutching Cadence's hoof like he had been doing for the past several days. "Makes me sick to hear that one of them is still alive."

"They even took a hostage, Shining Armor," remarked Luna. "A pony that didn't even have any contact with them to begin with. It goes to show you just how dangerous that certain Changelings like this one can be."

"I just hate sitting in this room all cooped up," groaned Cadence, who still couldn't move parts of her body, despite coming out of her medically induced coma. "This firefight happened in the Crystal Empire and who knows what could happen next. Thorax, you said that you sent Changelings to help in the hunt. Have they found anything?"

"They haven't reported to me on anything new," he replied, sighing. "But, I can assure you that now his brother is dead, Hopper will do just about anything to avoid being captured. There is a way that I can get through to him. But, how I can get through to him will be the ultimate question."

"I don't know if he will listen, Thorax," sighed Celestia, thinking back to when she and the other princesses went to Tartarus to offer Tirek a chance at friendship following his reimprisonment. "I'm afraid that this is a creature that will be well beyond reasoning. We all know that very well."

"That is very true, Celestia," remarked Twilight. "But, it's like you said, all we can do is pray for the best."

Thorax sighed as he stood in front of his friends and contemplated how he would address Hopper in getting him to give up his goals and surrender without any more violence or ponies getting into harm's way. It would have to be a very strong message to Hopper, a message that would hopefully put a thought in his mind to end the pain and suffering he was causing for a queen that would most likely never regain her rightful place ever again…