Cleaning Darkness

Cleaning Darkness
Chapter 9: Answers

By: Major Frostwing

The dungeons. Cold, dark, empty, Depressing... A perfect place for me. I was locked in here only a few days ago due to Dash refusing to put me down. I sat in the center of the room inhibitor cuffs over my wrists and inhibitor rings on each of my fingers. I could shatter them by just hitting the walls hard enough. I could escape in the same manner but I did not. I looked up looking through the bars of my prison seeing the squad of guards standing at the ready. A few of them looked down at me weapons always at the ready to stop me if I tried anything.

"Let us see the prisoner." The voice of Nova said as I heard footsteps coming towards my prison. I stood up only for the guards to flinch at the action raising their weapons. I turned my back to the bars sitting back down with a thud. "Open the door." Nova ordered.

"Princess Celestia has ordered us that no one was to enter the prison of the traitor." One of the guards said as I felt my anger rise.

"Are you disobeying a direct order Lieutenant?" Nova asked as I heard the guard stiffen.

"B-By your command Princess." The guard said opening the door to my cell with a squeak of the hinges. A set of foot steps entered my room before the door closed once again.

"Jon..." I heard Nova say as I only continued to stare at the back wall. "Dash has come to ask you a few questions." Nova said as I thought over her words before pointing at the spot across from me. I heard both of them move as I flexed my magic as much as possible stopping them with a small push of my magic. I raised one finger before motioning for Dash to come forward. I heard only one set of footsteps coming towards me and saw Dash sit down in front of me.

"Hello Jon." Dash said as I looked at her in the eyes.

"Hello." I said my voice sounding cold and emotionless. "What do you want to ask?" I got straight to the point as I didn't want to mess around with these people anymore.

"Why did you save me?" Dash asked as I thought it over. Such a simple question with an even simpler answer.

"People shouldn't have to see the ones they love die so abruptly." I answered my eyes never once looking away from hers. "If that is all get out." I said with finality to the conversation.

"But why put yourself in that much harm for someone you don't even like?" Dash asked as I glared at her.

"If you die the elements won't work." I said barely above a whisper. "Without the elements the world falls to darkness and that makes everyone fall into that same darkness. There has to be some form of light in this world. Without it and the world will never recover." I pointed out as I saw some form of confusion on her face. "I saved you because the world needs that little ray of light." I said looking down at my shackled hands tightening them into fists. "I fought for the light by being the bigger shadow. The shadow on shadows so to speak. So dark that I caused the real monsters in the dark to shudder in fear." I loosened my fists letting them relax. "A shadow protecting the last bits of light in this world from harm. I would gladly die for that little light to live on." I looked back up at Dash to see her looking at me in a new light. "No matter how hard you all fight you will never eradicate the darkness because no matter what. I will always be right here." I said closing my eyes taking a deep breath.

"Thank you Jon." Dash said as she stood up walking back towards Nova.

"Hey Dash. Tell Celestia I forgive her... She must be tearing herself up having to call me that." I said as I went back to staring at the wall. I heard the cell door open and close as the foot steps faded into nothing I stood once again turning back around towards the bars of my cell. I stared at the guards as we went back to our silence.

I sat in the meeting room. Twilight, Luna, Cadance, and Nova sat with me as we each thought of the topics we were to discuss. We each knew of the big topic at hand that needed to be discussed as soon as possible.

"Let us move to the biggest issue." Luna said as each of us lowered our heads. "Jon's crime and what we are going to do about it. The element of Loyalty has refused to imprison Jon after he saved her life and the other elements have come forth and agreed with her and have also refused to do the task." Luna stated as Cadance spoke up.

"We can't force them to do it. Even though we are the princesses we can't force them to attack a friend. That would shatter their link to the elements." I could only put my hand to my chin trying to think of a solution.

"We also can't keep him locked up in the dungeons. That would only breed more hate into Jon and cause him to be more powerful." Twilight said rubbing her forehead. She was one of the most upset about this entire dilemma concerning Jon's punishment.

"I have a suggestion." Nova spoke up catching all of our attentions.

"And what is your suggestion Nova?" I asked as Nova took a deep breath sighing.

"Pardon Jon of his crime." Nova said with more resolve than I have ever seen from her before.

"So we should just ignore the fact Jon broke the rules of his reformation? Just ignore the fact that he snuffed out another life like it was nothing?" I said slamming my fist on the table.

"Think about it Celestia. Jon didn't have to save Dash's life." Nova said as we all thought it over before Twilight caught on to what she said.

"If he didn't save her then there would have been no consequence to his killing. The elements would have been useless and therefore our threat to put him back would become useless." Twilight explained as we all looked to Twilight before looking to Nova. "So why did he do it?" Twilight asked.

"I brought Dash to talk with Jon since she had the exact same question we are thinking. I listened to what he said and I now know the answer... That's actually incorrect. I knew the answer all along."

"What do you mean Nova?" Luna asked as Nova had a look of pain on her face.

"Before the attack on Canterlot castle all those years ago Jon said something to me. You all should be preparing since you will be fighting your first big bad and you don't want to be unprepared for them." Nova said before looking at us. "He wasn't talking about Queen Serene... He was talking about himself. He knew the world would only continue to try and destroy us because he was there. With him out of the picture the villains would not try to attack us because he was the main goal. 'Beat the top dog and take his place' so to speak." Nova explained.

"You can not be suggesting that Jon..." Cadance began as Nova smiled.

"Played everyone for fools?" She asked as she nodded her head. "Jon was never evil to begin with he just made it seem that way kept up the charade even after he was released. Jon is still on our side and him sacrificing himself to protect the elements proves it. Again if he was really evil he would have just let Dash die." Nova said as we all thought over the argument presented to us.

"Jon was faking it? Then that means... Oh sweet Faust." I said as I set my hand over my eyes trying to hold back my tears of frustration. "I called him that wretched name."

"Jon gave Dash a message that was passed on to me Celestia. It was for you." Nova said as I looked up to her as Nova smiled. "I forgive you." I swear I saw Jon for a flash of a second standing there saying those words. I lost control as the tears fell free as I let out a choked sob.

"I'm sorry everyone but there is a mistake I need to rectify." I said as I stood from my seat channeling my magic as I began to teleport.

I continued to sit in my cell moving my magic through my body avoiding my arms seeing how far I could push my magic without being noticed. It was like a little game to see how much magic I could channel without the guards noticing. My concentration was broken but a burst of magic ripping through the aether that I recognized all to well.

I scowled as I turned my back to the bars knowing who was coming. The door leading down to my cell was thrown open. "Leave us." Celestia commanded as The guards stood straight saluting. They filed out of the room leaving only me as Celestia in the room.

"What do I owe the pleasure?" I asked not once looking back. I heard the door to my cell being ripped off it's hinges as I finally looked back.

"A thousand years... a facade at what you really were." Celestia said as she stepped into the room. I stood up ready for a fight only for Celestia to wrap her arms around me. "A thousand years of being called a traitor when you were the most loyal to us all along." I felt her tighten her grip on me as I continued to stand there. "I am so sorry that I called you that." Celestia whispered as I felt magic wrap around my bonds unlocking them and pulling them off.

I quickly wrapped Celestia in a hug feeling the sincerity in the apology. "About fucking time you saw it." I said as I released my hold on her as she did the same. I smiled to her as she did the same to me. That's when I slammed my fist into her stomach bringing her face down as I seized her head bringing it further down as I raised my knee knocking her to the ground. Celestia coughed hard curling on herself from the pain I reached down lifting her by her clothes. "That's for calling me a traitor." I said dusting off her shoulders before backhanding her across the face rather hard. "Twice." Celestia moved her jaw around trying to fix the damage I caused.

"I deserved that." She said coughing again.

"Damn right you did. Now then I'm gonna guess you are going to pardon me of my crimes and all that shit right?" I asked as I rolled my wrist about thinking.

"Yes... but there will be a big ceremony for you to return as The Fist of Equestria." Celestia said as I held up my hand stopping her.

"You can pardon my crimes on paper right?" I asked as I smiled wickedly.

"Of course. What are you scheming in that head of yours." Celestia asked returning a mischievous smile to me.

"Just want to bait the hook is all. Now show me the way up so the guards don't think I just escaped if you would kindly." I said motioning for her to take the lead. "And cover up that black eye it will just raise unnecessary questions." I said as Celestia giggled before leading the way up.