Justice Done

Time passed, and I didn't hear anything from Canterlot, so I just continued to live my life, as though nothing was out of the ordinary. I helped Fluttershy tend to her animals, beat Rainbow Dash at a series of endurance challenges that weren't really much of a challenge at all when she, and I were lending a helping hoof to the local Pegasai who were on the weather team, spent time at Sugar Cube corner making enough candy, and sugary baked goods with Pinkie Pie to give all of Equis severe upset stomachs, and toothaches until doomsday, and helped out at Sweet Apple Acres. I spent time helping Spitfire, and Soarin yell at, and train (mostly yell at) wannabes who thought they had what it takes, and were ever worthy to be Wonderbolts (Which they didn't, and weren't), served as a model, and ponyquin for Rarity at carousel Boutique, and practiced playing my guitar at home. One day, about three weeks after I had returned to Ponyville, I went to Twilight's castle. When I arrived at the castle, I knocked on the door, fully expecting Twilight, or Spike to answer the door. I was surprised when a lavender unicorn mare with a purple, and white mane, and purple eyes answered instead.

"Hello?" she asked.

"My name's Six String. I'm here to help out Twilight with some of the chores, and maintenance stuff around her castle."

"She said you'd be stopping by," the Unicorn said, offering a hoof. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, Princess Twilight's student."

I shook her hoof, and we went inside.

"Oh! You're here!" said Twilight trotting in from one of the other rooms.

"Yeah. So what do you want me to do first?"

"Well, the books in the library need to be taken off the shelves, and both the books themselves, and the shelves need to be dusted."

"I can do that."

"I appreciate your offer to help out here. Normally, Spike would do it, but he's away in the Dragon Kingdom at the moment."

"I don't mind at all. It's not like I had anything else to do, since the soldiers aren't back yet with the ponies from that 'place'."

"I'll help you," Starlight told me.

"Thanks," I replied. "The work will get done faster that way."

"That's the idea, silly filly!" Twilight said to me. "and while you're doing that, I'll go talk to Mayor Mare about the Summer Sun Celebration next month!"

"It's in Ponyville again, this year?" asked Starlight.

"Yep!" Twilight said exuberantly. "The last time it was here in Ponyville, was when Nightmare Moon returned after a thousand years of being exiled in the moon!"

"I bet you're happy about that," said Starlight.

"Of course she is, Starlight. "Any excuse for the egghead to see her mentor."

Twilight giggled.

"Sompony's been hanging out with Rainbow Dash."

Just then a loud knock interrupted the conversation.

"So much for a normal day," Twilight snarked. "You would think that after so long, that I would learn that there's no such thing."

I went to the large oak doors, and open them. What I saw surprised me. It was two heavily armored Unicorn mare guards. Behind them were four pegasai who were also heavily armored.

"Are you Nimble Hooves alias Six String?" one asked.

"Yes. What can I do for you?"

"We need you to come with us. We've been ordered to bring you to Canterlot to be put into protective custody."

"What?! Twilight, Starlight, and I exclaimed in unison.

"Somepony's put a hit out on you."

"Other than the manure brains who ran that camp that I was in, I can't think of...oh sweet Celestia..."

"What is it, Six String?" asked Starlight.

"My parents."

Sighing, I bowed my head, and closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face as the horrible memories return to haunt me once more.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again."

"What's that?" Twilight asked.

"Buck My Life..."

"Don't worry. They'll be made to pay for what they've done to you," said Twilight, draping a wing across my back, and nuzzling me.

"I-I'd better go. When, and if I ever get back to Ponyville, I'll explain what this is all about Starlight. I promise."

"Well, I'm not planning on moving away, so take as long as you need."

I walked outside, and boarded the chariot with the two unicorn guards. The Pegasai got a running start, and began flapping their wings. Soon we were airborne, and on our way to Canterlot.

From the time the chariot took off, I just sat there staring off into nothingness in shock, and disbelief.

"I-I thought they were passed this," I said softly.

"Hmm?" one of the unicorn guards asked.

I looked up at her.

"I was going to move on with my life, and they were going to move on with theirs, and as far as they were concerned, I was a complete stranger. Why would they try to have me killed? I'm not out for money, or revenge for what they did to me when I was younger," I said. "I just want to be able to live peacefully."

"And you should be able to. I don't know what it is that they think you did to upset them, but they need to grow the buck up, and get over it already!"

I smiled weakly at her.

"If being a crossdressing marecolt is a crime, then I guess I'm guilty, and should be executed in the most slow, painful, horrible, brutal, bloody, violent, agonizing way possible."

"No, you shouldn't." the second Unicorn said. "You're not the only one who has dealt with things like this."

"He's right," the first Unicorn said. "You're not alone in this."

I looked at the two mares confusedly.

"'He'?"

"Have one of the other guards bring you to the room of Shield Bearer, and Quick Strike after you're done talking with the Princesses. That's us, the first Unicorn said."

"We'll explain everything to you then," said the second.

"Does anypony else know?" I asked.

"Just Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, and they've promised not to tell anypony."

We soon landed, and the two unicorns lead me to the throne room, and right before the guards there opened the doors, the two unicorns who had brought me to Canterlot each hugged, and nuzzled me.

"Keep your chin up, cutie," the first one said, as they walked away.

The throne room doors opened, and I walked through the open door way, only for the doors to close behind me again. the guards just inside the doors lead me up to to where the Princesses were standing.

"Ah, Nimble Hooves. You're here," Celestia said.

"Does thou knowest why we have summoned thee?" asked Luna.

"Somepony has hired another to kill me." I replied.

They both nodded.

"My parents?" I asked.

"We know not who is responsible, but I suspect we will soon find out, for we have received a letter from the guards whom we had sent to find everyone who works at that camp that you were in, as well as everypony who had been put in there, and their parents," Luna told me.

"We will cast a truth spell on all the camp's employees, and the parents of those who had been subjected to the horrors of that place," said Celestia. "They will have no choice but to tell us what we need to know."

"Even your parents will be brought to trial. If found guilty, they will be locked in the dungeons below Canterlot Castle with the rest of the scum." Luna added.