Will of Fire

Chapter 21 - The Moon Stone

By: TheXIIILightning

"But that doesn't explain a thing!"

Rainbow Dash was getting a bit anxious, I still haven't said a thing about the robbery or the murder. But I needed to tell them about my Cutie Mark so they could understand what really happened. After showing them my scar, the old one, it seems like they're starting to trust me again. Except for Rainbow that is.

"But it'll make sense soon enough, I promise."

"Yeah, yeah. I just don't see what the big deal is. Yeah you lived with an Ex-Captain of the guard, who cares?" Rainbow fell down and crossed her legs, clearly showing how bored she was.

That pony gave me a family, that is a big deal!

"But Rainbow." Twilight started. "It is a big deal, there aren't many Captains around you know."

"Twilight is right dear." Rarity stepped into our conversation. "The last time we went to Canterlot there were only two captains, and that includes Twilight's brother."

Wait, what?

"Twilight?" I started. "You didn't tell me your brother was a Captain of the guard."

"Don't worry, she forgot to tell us too." Rainbow chuckled.

"I already said that I was sorry." Twilight glared at Rainbow. "But it's true, my brother is Shining Armor, unicorn Captain of the guard." She said proudly.

"Wow, congratulations." She smiled. "Tell me, is Captain Hurricane still in charge of the pegasi?"

"I don't know, why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to know. Captain Hurricane took Sparrow as his pupil right before he joined the guard. I guess that nopony has best him yet." Twilight scratched her chin in thought.

"I don't think so, my brother's Bubble Shield and Captain Hurricane's Wind Armor are still the best techniques around. And nopony else filled the role of earth pony Captain yet."

Ranking in Equestria works like this.

When a pegasus or unicorn develops a technique stronger than their superiors, they are qualified to raise in rank. Also, if a Captain retires he may choose a Commander, or a strong enough pony, to take his role. He may not be as strong as the retiring Captain, but he still gets the same amount of respect.

Unicorns, are in charge of protecting the Princesses and the city of Canterlot.

Pegasi, are in charge of Cloudsdale and act as the main offensive force of Equestria.

Earth ponies, represent the citizens of Equestria, and protect all the small towns and big cities.

It's been like this since the founding of Equestria.

"I thought so." I started. "Most earth ponies serve as Sheriff's in small towns like Ponyville and Appleloosa, so there aren't many of them qualified enough to fill the role of a Captain." Mentore was an exception, he defeated Hurricane in single combat. The first one to do so, might I add

"Wait, why would somepony like Captain Hurricane, take your brother as a pupil?" Rainbow sat up and asked. "No offense." She added, my small glare worked.

"None taken." I said

"Mentore was a master of hoof-to-hoof combat, he trained the both of us in every field of combat. He also trained the entire guard before he retired, so his name was well known in the city. Sparrow and I trained everyday with him, and soon became a force to be reckon with." Rainbow Dash gave a small whistle.

"I could still take you down." She laughed, I rolled my eyes.

"Anyway, when Sparrow got old enough to join the guard, Captain Hurricane took him under his wing. Sparrow was training under the most powerful and dangerous pony in all of Equestria, so I needed to learn something too. So I made a sword and learned how to use it."

"A sword?" Applejack asked.

"A sword." I nodded.

"And couldn't ya... ya know. Learn that fancy wing thing?" She asked, and I laughed.

"I wish! I suck at weather control and anything magic related."

"When Sparrow and I fought I would always win at hoof-to-hoof combat, I was stronger than him because I never left Mentore. Sparrow would always win when we fought in the sky, but when I used my sword, we would always tie."

"In other words we were always at each other's throats, in friendly competition of course."

"Right now I'm winning, eighty-one to eighty." I tapped my chest proudly.

"Ha! Yer worse than me an RD. Though we don't count a score or anythin'"

"I'm winning, fifty-three to forty-nine..." Rainbow muttered to Pinkie, who snorted and giggled.

"What was that?" Applejack nudged her foreleg.

"N- Nothing!" Rainbow stammered.

"Ah thought so." She huffed.

"I'm sorry girls." I said. "But where getting a bit off topic here, mind if I continue the story?"

"Not at all, do carry on." Rarity said. The others nodded.

"Well, Sunshine and I lived happily with Mentore and Sparrow. But shortly before my 17th birthday, things went south." I closed my eyes, to collect my thoughts.

"Sunshine and I were at the market looking for merchants that were in need of an escort. We had made a name for ourselves, I was the brute, the one nopony messed with. And Sunshine learned medicine, she liked to spend a few days in the hospital and help the nurses. When we weren't out on work of course."

"One day on the market, somepony approached us. He was wearing a hood and had a big package, we didn't give him much attention at the time. He asked us to deliver the package to Manehattan that very same day, we were going to refuse but he offered us A TON of bits if we did. We stupidly accepted.

"We wanted to pay back the merchants, for all the food we took years ago. And that money would have helped a lot. But thanks to that stupid deal, I can't even show my face in Canterlot anymore."

"What was inside that box?" Twilight cautiously asked. I sighed.

"Princess Luna's Moon Stone." They all gasped.

It's a piece of the moon that Princess Luna created. That stone is said to be thousands of years old, it's said that in the night the moon was made, Luna took a piece of it and offered it to her sister.

The story isn't much, but the Moon Stone is more of a symbol than anything else. Although some ponies believe that that stone contains some sort of ancient power, it's really nothing more than a rock.

Princess Luna herself said it was just that, a symbol made out of stone.

"So it was you that took it." Twilight said, her voice low.

"I didn't steal it." I corrected her. "I was just caught WITH it." I sighed.

"Hold on a second!" Pinkie yelled, putting her hoof in the air. "If that mysterious pony gave you the stone, then why didn't you tell the guards?" She pointed accusingly at me.

"Yeah." Applejack said. "It just doesn't had up." She said as she rubbed her temples.

"I hate to say it Lightning..." Twilight said in a low tone. "But I agree with them." She looked me in the eyes.

"Yeah, I know it sounds bad." I sighed. "But I didn't have a choice really, the only thing that I could do was run. I didn't have any proof that I DIDN'T do it. But they had proof that said I was to blame." I lowered my head on my hooves.

"I don't understand, what happened?" Twilight said.

I looked up, and through the purple of Twilight's Bubble Shield, I could see their gaze fixed on me. Awaiting my next words. Words I knew that could drastically change their opinion of me.

Sadly, there was no way to ease it this time. I had to be blunt, and that hurt.

"Mentore was the pony who died..."

End of Chapter 21

Dun, Dun, Duuuuuuuun!

Now for the Hype. *Ahem*

Here we go, the last flashback chapter before the adventure begins!

Who framed Lightning pegasi?

You won't find out in the next chapter, that would be silly! But still...

Find out in the next chapter of...

Will of Fire!