Survival Begins at Home

Shining stepped out of his carriage into the streets of Whinnyapolis. There were Equestrian guards all throughout the town, and not a zebra in sight. The citizens were cleaning the place up, now that they had the freedom to do so. After he moved out of the way, Sparkling Punch and her mother stepped out of the carriage and made their way back home as one of the guards approached Shining.

"Glad you're back," he said, smiling. "Lieutenant Vine has taken control of the town, and is waiting in the mayor's office."

"Does he know what's happened here?" asked Shining, adjusting his freshly-repaired breastplate. "I'd like to discuss the events following the negotiations."

"Of course. Come with me."

As the guard led Shining through the town, the citizens whistled and clapped, cheering for him. Shining knew from conversations with Sparkling Punch that he had either killed, captured, or driven off the zebras, but he had no idea how. Even she couldn't tell him everything, as she had only witnessed part of it.

On returning to City Hall, the receptionist stood up and smiled uncomfortably at Shining. It was clear that she had a fear of him, as well, but when he smiled and waved back, she let out a sigh of relief. Clearly, something about him had shaken her since his last visit.

Shining stepped into the mayor's office, where he found her and Lieutenant Vine, who was often in command of communications. "Captain Shining Armor," he said, standing and saluting.

Shining saluted back. "Lieutenant Grape Vine, good to see you again. At ease."

"We were just discussing a request for medical aid," said the mayor, not rising from her chair. "A lot of the citizens were beaten, as you are, no doubt, aware."

"Good news, then," smiled Shining. "Sparkling Punch and her mother have just returned, now that they've finished with me. I'm sure their assistance will be most beneficial."

The mayor furrowed her brow. "Cream Punch is a veterinarian."

Shining shrugged. "A bruise is a bruise, a laceration needs stitching either way." Inside his head, Shining had alarm bells going off. He calmed himself with the thought that he was alive because of her actions, and that if he was unhappy with her care, another physician would be able to clear it up.

"I've been around town," interrupted Grape Vine, "and I've compiled a list of stories from the locals. I plan on giving it to Celestia later today when she arrives, but I was hoping you might check it for accuracy, first." He offered a clipboard to Shining, a few sheets of paper held in the clamp.

The story began with Shining running down an alleyway and emerging with three severed zebra heads clenched in his fist. On his march back to the building, he killed two more zebras, while others ran off in fear. The select few frozen in place were ordered by him to find a jail cell to live in, which they promptly did. He then made his way into the mayoral office, made his demands, of which only three of the enemy soldiers complied with. The other two were killed. Shining then went out into the street with the captain's dead body and put it on full display, calling the attention of any remaining zebras. Any that fought were killed, with some actually managing to strike Shining with their weapons. As the last few retreated either out of the town or into the detention center, Shining limped back toward the entrance to the town and collapsed in the street. He then disappeared into the alleyway just before sunset.

"I certainly can't deny that any of this is true," shrugged Shining. "I don't recall most of it. I just sort of blanked it out, I guess."

"Are you saying you lost control of yourself?" asked Grape Vine. "If you aren't in control of yourself, can we be so sure that you are mentally stable?"

Shining shook his head. "I'm not sure myself. I'm probably not the best for the job, but if I am needed, I will heed the call."

"I suppose, if nothing else, you're very patriotic," shrugged Grape Vine. "In the end, I suppose you had enough lucidity to protect the civilians and let the zebras run. You even convinced a fair few of them to imprison themselves. That's the part that impresses me the most."

The three of them spoke for a few minutes more before a guard came in to alert them to Celestia's arrival. They filed out of the office into the street while Celestia's chariot landed in front of them. Grape Vine was the first to approach, handing over his report. Celestia scanned through it, then looked up at Shining and furrowed her brow. "Is this true, Prince Shining Armor?"

"I cannot say for certain," he replied. "I don't remember."

Celestia sighed and took a few steps toward him. "It seems as if you have no further business serving as a defender of Equestria. I'm going to have you reassigned."

A young colt broke away from his mother and rushed over between Shining and Celestia. "He saved my mommy!"

Another mare stepped forward. "He did a great deal more than that."

"We owe him our lives," said another.

"You cannot mean to lock him away?"

"How dare you fire him!"

Soon, the crowd had gathered around Shining, and they were shouting their discontent at Celestia. She tried to calm them down, but she was only one alicorn, and they were an entire town, albeit a small one. She was losing control of the situation, and fast.

"Enough!!" Shining shouted from the middle of the crowd, calming them. "I am a servant of the ponies of Equestria, and I go where I am needed the most. If what Equestria needs is for me to be situated behind a desk, I will gladly take up the chair. If I am unfit to be of service, then I must step down. I know you all have strong opinions over what I did here, but if you have families out of town, think on what you would feel if I stopped fighting for their safety. Whatever is best for Equestria, it needs me to be somewhere else. While I'm gone, I'm sure Lieutenant Vine will do a fine job of protecting you. It is, after all, his job as much as it is mine. Stand down."

The crowd stood still for a moment, then cleared a path between the two. Celestia cleared her throat. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside."