Author's Note

Merry Christmas to all!

Treating Emotional Wounds (Edited By PW)

After storming out of the dining room, Amon kept wandering through the castle, getting lost repeatedly until one maid pointed him in the right direction at his destination or at least the closest thing to what he needed.

The royal wine cellar where he didn't waste time raiding the place, choking on as much alcohol as he could while sitting in the corner of one room, until he heard a familiar voice.

"You know, that wine market price is estimated to be around four thousand bits per bottle," Purple and his group mention, with a neutral expression, getting worried at the various empty bottles surrounding the poor stallion.

"Counting the one in your hand and in your pockets, I easily see 35 bottles," Brick says, concerned for Amon's safety and the puddles of wine that were forming around him. “Are you ok dude? The entire castle began a search party once you start bursting doors”

"They care, good to know," Amon replies with a glare before returning to his bottle. "You call it off and tell them that you found me. Now fuck off."

"Yeah, that is not going to happen, bud," Blissy replies, approaching Amon. "I don't know what put your boxers on a knot, but we can't just let you drink, the royal cellar…"

"Why not!?" Amon snapped back, pointing at her and almost dripping red wine all over her uniform. "Equestria already took my liver, eye, and teeth. So I say they owe me big time! A healthy liver alone could be worth 50 thousand easily."

He lifted the bottle. "So consider this first payment. Now leave me alone so I can get black-out drunk in peace!"

The guards remain quiet before Purple sighs, grabs a nearby crate, and sits down, his friends doing something similar. "Can you at least share?" Purple suggests, "That way, it will not be concerning and sad."

"Whatever," Amon holds the bottle in his arms. "I don't think I could keep drinking this shit alone much longer anyway," Amon replies with a disgusted expression as he stares at the bottle. "Seriously, who likes drinking this stuff?" Amon asks no one as he rolls one still-full bottle toward them as Brick picks it up. And grab some mugs to serve him and his friends.

"Amon, I hate bursting your bubble, but for the sake of your sanity, I should inform you that an alicorn metabolism would target and cleanse invasive agents on their stomach 5 times faster than a normal pony," Bliss mentions him in a somber tune.

"What does that mean?" Amon asks, chucking more of the content of his bottle.

"It means that even if you drink this entire cellar, the only thing you would achieve is the urge to pee." She finished, making Amon pause mid-drink. There are rumors of a secret cellar reserved only for the princesses to give them a buzz, but nobody believes it even exists."

"And before you give any ideas, the stories said they are stocked somewhere only the princesses would know outside the castle," Bricks adds before Amon can get any ideas.

"FUCK!" Amon yells and throws the bottle into a wall, shattering the glass and spreading its contents as he holds his head. "I can't even get drunk?! God damn it, Fuck! FUCK! Am I some kind of sick joke to god? Is that it, god? You want to see me suffer, you fucking prick? Why don't you just kill me already?!" Amon yells at the ceiling.

"Hey! Hey! Dude, calm down. Take deep breaths here." Purple urges in concern. "Please, why don't you tell us what happened and how you ended up here?"

It takes a moment, but Amon finally manages to calm down enough to sigh and close his eyes. "I was born cursed with the worst possible luck imaginable; that is what is going on."

"Yeah, we figure that you were dealt with a crappy hand at the start, but do we really need to keep reminding you of… oh, I don't know? BEEN an alicorn?!" Blissy reminds him sternly.

Amon was surprised at that before getting angry and standing up. "And you think what it cost me makes it a fair trade?"

Amon starts advancing, making Bliss back away. "My friends, my family, my home, my life, my body, my fucking SANITY! All gone because a stupid bitch couldn't accept the fact that her crush didn't reciprocate her feelings!"

"Amon, please calm down," Purple asks him, getting in between him and Blissy Brick, who is getting ready to restrain Amon if needed.

"No, I don't want to hear it!" Amon points at them before advancing toward another cellar and grabbing another bottle. "Before I met you, my life was more stable. It was shit, but at least I was ok living under the belief I was cursed, a homeless person just wandering around without any idea on how things could get worse!"

He takes another big gulp of his drink before addressing the 3. "Now I find out that I'm just some kind of accident from a bunch of cultists trying to hide their mistake under the rug. Cultist that only exists because Ms. Jonestown was caught before she got the chance of spiking the punch," Amon exclaims, tossing and breaking the bottle under his fit before looking at the 3.

While shaking his head, he started to back away. "So don't ask me to calm down because rage… rage is the only thing I have left."

"That is not true; you still have us," Purple tells him.

"Us?" Amon points at him and chuckles sarcastically.. "No, no, no, I'm not so sure if there is still an "us" here. Not as long as ponies like Purple get away with only a slap on the wrist and a cozy job at the palace, and psychopaths that she made are treated like she just spilled milk."

"Are you talking about Starlight Glimmer?" Brick asks before getting surprised. "By Celestia, that is what you meant when you said her name was Ms. Jonestown? Did she have a relapse?"

Amon just remains quiet. "I don't know, I don't care. She can go to hell," he says as he leaves.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Since I can't get drunk, I'd like to go somewhere where I can be alone," Amon says coldly without looking back. The guards just look at each other, unsure whether they should chase after him or not, until they decide to respect his wishes for the time being.

In the meantime, at the dining room, the princesses and mane six were still discussing the problematic situation they had in their hands once a group of servants brought a new table and food for them to finish their meal.

"Well, I'm gonna say it because we are all thinking about it; what happens now?" Dash mentions out loud, "Putting the Amon deal aside, we still have to worry about a freaking cult coming after us with magic that can make alicorns. We need to do something and fast before we have an army of brainwashed alicorn monsters or something worse coming after us."

"Dash is right." Celestia nods before looking at Luna. "Did Mark tell you anything else? Sister?"

"Only their last base of operation, the name of their group, and how they gather their funds on the black market. I want to make preparations, but tracking them down will not be easy, and as things stand, until they reveal their face, they have the upper hand on the situation," Luna explained with a sigh while looking down.

"I'm afraid this new threat will present its challenges, unlike other foes from the past."

The room was quiet for a moment before Starlight gained everyone's attention. "I can track them," she said. Her comments also gained the attention of everyone: "I know how to traverse the black market, including where and whom to talk to when you wish to track those who want to disappear, especially if they have been making a living in that hellhole."

Starlight looks at the royal sisters. "Plus, I'm the reason this mess started in the first place; it's only fair that I fix it."

"Absolutely not," Luna said, putting her hoof down. Starlight, we appreciate the offer and the initiative, but these are highly unstable and dangerous ponies to whom you have awoken a primal fury and thirst for revenge. As is, you and Amon are their most prominent targets."

"But…" Starlight argues, only to be interrupted.

"I'm afraid I must agree with Luna here, Starlight," Celestia adds. "We appreciate the offer, but it would be best if you and he remain in the castle while we work on another solution. Do not dread it. We know of a way to traverse the black market, too. We will find this group in no time."

"So you expect me to stay in the castle while you risk your lives? What about Amon? And his chasers? They could still be out there," Starlight asks in indignation.

"Starlight is right," Fluttershy adds. "We can't just leave him alone; he needs his friends more than ever."

"Yeah! Someone needs to help him turn that frown upside down." Pinkie mentions standing up as well.

"Agree, that is why it would be best if we continued in his friendship lessons and that you stay with us for the time being, Starlight," Celestia mentions, surprising the unicorn.

"What? Ah, princess. Not to contradict you, but he is not exactly my fan right now. Are you sure leaving us under the same roof will be wise?"

"I know it sounds baffling, but because of your shared past, you should spend time together to heal each other. After all, wasn't this what you wanted in part? To be held responsible for your past? To be hated and yelled at and called a monster for your actions? Everyone here has forgiven you your misdeeds from the past, even if you view it as a bit rushed, we still pardon you because we knew the true value of kindness, second chances, and understanding of true repentance, but I ask Starlight. Have you ever had the chance to forgive yourself?" Luna asks with a concerned tone.

Starlight can't think of a red bottle and can only remain quiet.

"That is what I thought; we can't change what we once were, and we can't take the blame for the actions that others did for our past. Just like you can't take responsibility for this cult, I can't respond to the actions of the Lunar Republic. We can only be responsible for our actions; this is a lesson both you and Amon must learn together."

"But how? Now that he knows, he will never listen to anything I have to say," Starlight asks, on the verge of tears.

Celestia smiles and lifts Starlight's chin. "With patience and time. The wound is still fresh, so it needs to be treated as soon as possible. It hurts at first and will be more than uncomfortable, but it needs to be done. If you ignore it, then it will just get infected. That is why you need to remain here; if our words can't reach you, then maybe Amon will, as we all help heal him in return."

Starlight smiled and choked a little before cleaning her face. "Okay, princess… I… I think I can try."

"I have faith in you, Starlight. If you can deal with two old mares bickering, I'm sure you can take care of this as well," Celestia jokes, bringing some color to Starlight's cheeks.

"The hours grow late, sister; I must return to my chambers," Luna says, pointing at a grandfather clock.

"I concur, sister, it's getting late. We can resume this conversation in the afternoon; for now, the best is to study our enemy and think of a plan; the royal library is at your disposal."

"You can count on us, princesses! We will think of something by the time you are back," Twilight proclaims as her friends cheer.

"And meanwhile, Starlight and I can go look for Amon," Pinkie offers as she hugs Starlight, hugging the unicorn.

"Ah, Pinkie, are you sure that would be wise?" Starlight asks in concern as Pinkie nods repeatedly

"Yeah, silly; we wouldn't want him doing something silly like trying to escape and chase after those bad ponies, right?"

The room grows quiet at that idea as everyone gets surprised. "Agree; please look after Amon and ensure he doesn't do anything rash, Pinkie," Celestia asks her as the rest nod.

Dash then notices something and looks around before addressing the group, "Hey, where did Fluttershy go?"

The rest noticed how their shy friend seemed to have just vanished without anyone noticing.

Sometime later, Amon kept stumbling his way through the castle opening and closing doors everywhere as he had no choice but to ask the guards for directions even if he himself wasn’t sure where he was going, and just stick to just ask where there were fewer ponies and what directions to avoid like the throne room, the kitchen and changing rooms after one awkward instance where he almost saw something he didn’t want to see and complicate his emotions even further.

Eventually Amon resign to just headed to the royal garden and lost himself as deep as he could inside of it, where he could finally be alone with his thoughts as he stare at the horizon while leaning against a tree

Downing the remaining of his last bottle Amon throws it away and sigh in exhaustion and looking at sky.

I can’t even numb the pain, why me? Am I really cursed? Born with the worst luck…?

Amon thought of himself before getting startled when he felt a snout on his side, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a wolf poking him with his ears behind her back as it cried. Surprise, Amon recognized it as the same mama wolf he had met not too long ago, and sure enough, her cubs were not too far away as they appeared around her. All of them looked directly at him.

His surprise soon turned to curiosity until the reflection of one of the bottles from afar caught his attention for a moment. Then the wolf said, "Sorry for startling you and your kids, ma'am. I just… I just had a day."

Amon sighed and lay down on the bottom of the tree as he prepared to close his eyes again, only to open them once he felt the wolf's head resting on his chest.

"Hey, what are you…?" The cubs interrupt him when they start to move erratically and lick his face. "Okay, okay, stop it, I… I'm not in the mood." Amon tries to push them away, but they don't seem to let out, so with a frustrated sigh, he relents and allows them to get comfortable.

"Fine, you win." Amon starts to pet them until they seem to have calmed down, staying close to him and closing their eyes.

"At least you are soft, and you have each other," Amon mumbles as he pets the head of Mama Wolf. "It must be nice having a place to live with your species." As he scratches her ear, Amon suddenly remembers last night, particularly a bit Pinkie said.

"...a place with other humans," Amom mumbles as he slowly sits down. The wolves look at him in confusion.

"She said that, a way home, so if she was telling the truth…"

"Amon?" Fluttershy's voice alerts him, and when Amon turns back, he sees the pegasus in question being guided by a robin as they approach him tentatively. The pegasus stops in surprise when she notices how Amon is holding a cub in one hand and petting Mama Wolf with another one.

"Shy… Sha… Fluttershy?" Amon finally recalled her name. "What… how did you find me?"

Fluttershy could only point at the robin that landed on her finger, which surprised Amon. "A little bird literally told you?" Amon asks with a raised eyebrow as Fluttershy nods slowly.

"Wow, just wow… I shouldn't be surprised, but I'm starting to think birds here love to talk and spy on others."

The robin starts to chip aggressively at that. "He says that you are thinking squirrels," Fluttershy responds with a lost gaze.

"Right," Amon rolled his eyes and leaned on the tree again, the wolves resting on his lap. "Well, you find me; now, leave me alone."

Fluttershy seems to ignore that as she starts to breathe in and start mumbling to herself. Amon catches glimpses of her saying something about her being able to do this and just needing to soldier on before advancing and standing in front of the stallion.

"Amon, I'm horny," She finally blurts.

"What?" Amon asks in confusion and surprise.

"WORRY! I meant Worry!" Fluttershy clarified with a deep red face before taking a deep breath and continuing, "I'm extremely worried for you, Amon, me, and the rest of my friends. The way you just left the dining room after you heard about Starlight, I… we thought you may do something drastic."

She says as she glances at some of the empty bottles around Amon, "It's like raiding the royal cellar."

"Don't worry. I can't get drunk, and considering what Ms. Jonestone did and where she is now, I imagine the princesses are now discussing if they should make me the ambassador of public relationships or something like that," Amon exclaims in anger.

Fluttershy sighs and shakes her head. "Amon, I know this is hard to hear, but don't you think you are taking this somewhat out of proportion?" Fluttershy asks with a nervous smile.

"Gee, I don't know, Fluttershy. Let me answer that with another question." Amon stood up. "Better yet, let's make this mental example so you can get a better idea." Amon put the cub down and started circling the pegasus.

"Let's imagine for a moment that… there is this arsonist, a naughty pony that is off his rockets and just loves to see ponies burned alive with this psychotic smile on his face. Let's imagine that this arsonist broke into your house, tied you up, and forced you to watch as he burned everything around you as he laughed. What the hell! Let's be dramatic and say he burns your pets, family, and special pony, too!"

Amon raises his hands in the air and increases the volume of his voice, yet Fluttershy remains firm. "You get the picture? Now imagine that the only way you escape is because you broke away from your chains and used them to bludge that psycho repeatedly to death, and now you have to live with the nightmares of blood, flesh, and burned fur engraved on your head.

Amon points at his head as he stands in front of Fluttershy, kneeling a little so they can be at eye level. "Fast-forward ten years, and you meet the captain of the fire department, who, surprise, surprise, in his youth, was also an arsonist. And he is the father of the same arsonist who took everything to you, plus he taught his son exactly how to burn things. Could you forgive him?!"

"I do," Fluttershy says stoically, making Amon retreat and look at her, surprised at how she stood her ground. "And I stand with what I say."

Amon starts laughing and turns around, "Oh, this is rich. Even now, you are still defending her. Okay, for the sake of fairness, I will give you a try. Go ahead, tell me right here and now, why should I say anything to Ms. Jonestown? Why should I let her explain herself?"

Amon defies her by pointing at the ground.

"In both the context of your example and my friend, neither hurt me or any other pony," Fluttershy tells him with a slight glare. "Yes, both of them did bad things, but Starlight never hurt anyone; she deceived others and used mild mind control once, but never once resorted to torture, violence, and inhumane actions. Like your captors did, and you know it."

Amon remains quiet, taking some deep breaths before pointing at her, not sure how to reply and finding the right words until he has no choice but to say his reply. "You… clever mare."

Mark suddenly gets an idea. I still need them to tell me that option Pinkie mentioned. Maybe I should use them to get out of here.

"So you are not mad at her anymore?" Fluttershy asks hopefully as Amon starts walking with her close by.

"I never said that; I'm just saying that you have a point; she may still be a cult… ex-cult leader, but you haven't lied to me yet, and… well, I… trss…"

"What was that?" Fluttershy asks, blinking a couple of times.

"I say that I rather trushsfign you."

"I still don't get it."

"I say I rather trust you! There! Happy?!" Amon immediately felt Fluttershy flying to him and bringing him into a strong hug. For whatever reason, her chest once more was pressing against the side of his face, catching him off guard.

"Oh, Amon! That is so kind of you to say! Thank you so much! You are the sweetest stallion ever! I promise you. I'll not betray your trust; I assure you Starlight is a nice mare that you only need to get to know better," Fluttershy says as she uses her wings and excitement to spin them around.

"Fluttershy! Stop! Stop! We talked about this! Your chest… I can feel your boobs in my ear! Stop it! I'm losing my balance!" Amon warns her, but it is too late as they both feel the wolf barking and approaching the two as the cubs want to join the game. Amon tries to pry Fluttershy away from his face, yet she seems to have a firmer grip than usual.

Their moment is soon interrupted when they both hear someone clearing her throat.
Stopping both ponies, look ahead to see Viola looking at them with a smirk and her arms crossed.

"Vivi, I swear, this is NOT how it looks."

"I overheard how you seem lost and getting yourself into trouble all over the castle, particularly stumbling your way in the mare changing room. Seriously, sir, if you were feeling lonely, you only needed to ask me,"
Viola mentions as she stares at Amon.

Both Amon and Fluttershy's faces turn red from Vivi's light teasing.