Will of Fire

Chapter 7 - The stallion sleeps tonight

By: TheXIIILightning

"And that's all that I remember. You girls know the rest, you're the ones that saved me after all..."

I had just finished telling them my story, I left out most of the bloody details, but told them more than enough so they knew what happened. I told them about the kid, about the flying lesson, the talk I had with Sunshine, and some parts involving the Manticore.

A few other things happened that I don't want anypony else to know about, or else I would die of embarrassment...

They stayed in silence for a while longer and I couldn't read their faces. Rainbow was looking at the floor, so were Applejack and Twilight.

Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy were looking at me with wide eyes. Fluttershy looked terrified and conflicted. I remember her reaction when I told them I had planned to kill that Manticore, she gave me a look of disgust, or maybe it was pity, either way, it broke my heart.

Pinkie, for the first time since I met her, wasn't smiling. Her mane was still poofy and bubbly, but had a darker shade of pink.

Rarity was moving her mouth, but words couldn't find their way out. I kinda agree with her. They're looking at a monster. I tried to take a life, nearly got killed for it, and then I felt pride in my own scars. Who does that!?

A tear made it's way into the corner of my eye, I don't deserve to be here, in the company of these ponies. I have to leave, go to Windermane or something. These ponies are kind, generous, honest, and I'm... Not.

Before I got up to take my leave, I felt warm and tight.

Fluttershy was hugging me, a few tears of her own going down her face...

"It's okay, everything is going to be alright... You're safe now." She said while rubbing my back.

"F- Fluttershy, what are you..." I didn't move, I just stood there hearing her soft voice.

"It's fine, just let it out. We're your friends, we're here for you." Friends...

I returned the hug and nuzzled her neck, and for the first time in 8 years.

I cried, I seriously cried.

I cried for me. I cried for my Mentor. I cried for my family. And I cried for Sunshine. I cried for the life I forced both of us to live.

After a few moments, I regained my composure. I looked around and their faces where full of warm smiles. Pinkie was absolutely beaming.

"It feels good to let it all out, doesn't it darling?" Rarity asked, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

"Yes, yes it does." I said smiling again. I turned to Fluttershy.

"Thank you Fluttershy, I needed that." I gave her a quick hug again, to which she replied with one of her own.

I turned to the rest of the girls again, they were still smiling.

"You girls must think I'm a big foal." I said chuckling to myself.

Rainbow started hovering in front of me.

"Yeah right! You faced a full grown Manticore by yourself! That's almost Daring Doo material!" She yelled the last part, like I had just done the impossible.

"Rainbow's right sugarcube, what ya did was mighty brave. Ah can safely say that Ah know very few ponies, that would do what ya did." Thanks Applejack...

"Yeah! You're like a hero! But not just any hero, A hero! Because Mare-do-well is a hero, but she's four ponies so it's not the same, because you're four times the hero. Oh! But Mare-do-well saved tons of ponies, so she has more points, but if Rarity made you a costume then-"

"Pinkie..." Twilight warned

"We could also make you a bandanna like future Twilight had, maybe a hat, a hero needs a hat, and a belt, and-"

Twilight used a spell to magically spawn a zipper on Pinkie's mouth, it closed shut but she kept talking.

"What Pinkie is trying to say is, you're welcome to stay in Ponyville as long as you'd like." Twilight said.

"Even if your means of getting here were slightly strange, you've proven yourself a proper gentlecolt." Rarity added.

"And by mah standards, you're already part of tha family." Applejack said. Wait, family?

Rainbow flew and landed next to Twilight

"So I guess all that's left is..." She winked at Twilight, who released the spell on Pinkie's mouth.

"A PARTY!!" Pinkie yelled

They all laughed while I stared in confusion, ignoring my confused expression. "A party?"

"Eeyup! But not tonight thou, ah need to hit the hay." Applejack yawned.

"You're all more than welcome to stay the night. Since it's already past midnight." Twilight said after looking at a big grandpa's clock.

"I think I'll accept that offer dearie. But I'll have to leave before breakfast, I have a huge order to fill." Rarity said while getting up.

"I have to, umm, tend to my animals. I'll have to skip breakfast too." Said Fluttershy.

"Ah'll have to help Big Mac on the farm, so I'll leave at dawn." Applejack was already curling near the fireplace.

"Since you girls are staying, I will too. Besides, i already fed Tank for the night." Rainbow shrugged and lied down with her head on Applejack's back, crossing her hind legs.

Pinkie got up from her pillow and tucked it away with the others.

"Sorry girls, but I can't stay. I have a LOT to plan for tomorrow, and I'll have to open the store in the morning. Oh! And give Gummy a bath!" Pinkie bounced happily in place.

"If you're sure. Just don't stay up too late, even you need to sleep." Twilight smiled and accompanied Pinkie to the door.

"Sure thing Twily!" Twilight sighed at her nickname.

"You're never going to let it go are you?" She half-smiled half-glared at Pinkie.

"Nnope!" Pinkie giggled at some joke that went right past me. "I'll be back in the morning to leave some invitations, see you soon everypony!" Pinkie turned and waved goodbye.

We all waved back and said goodbye, except for Applejack and Rainbow that were already fast asleep.

Twilight closed the door and looked at me.

"Well Light, let me show you where you're staying." She motioned me to follow her and started trotting up the stairs.

"Thanks Twilight, but I'll be fine here for the night. Rarity and Fluttershy can take my bed." I'm still a guest in her house, but I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly knowing that Fluttershy and Rarity would be sleeping on the floor.

I moved and sat down a couple feet away from Applejack and Rainbow, just to prove my point.

"Look at that Fluttershy, didn't I tell you he was a gentlecolt?" Rarity smiled and lightly bumped Fluttershy on the shoulder.

"I, um, wouldn't mind sleeping here, that is, um, you can take the bed. If you want that is..." Fluttershy blushed and hided behind her mane again. I was about to assure her that it's fine, but Rarity beat me to it.

"Please darling, he already said he's fine with it. Besides, it would be rude to refuse such a offer." Rarity turned around and pushed her head slightly on Fluttershy's flank. "Now come along, a girl needs her beauty sleep."

Both of them said goodnight, and went past Twilight on the staircase. She looked at me and smiled.

"Here's a pillow if you'd like." She levitated a small pillow towards me, the same one I was sitting on tonight, which I grabbed with my mouth and put behind me to rest my head. "If you need anything else, there's food in the kitchen, feel free to help yourself."

"Thanks Twilight, but I have everything I need right here." I said tapping my pillow. "Goodnight Twilight."

"Goodnight Light." Twilight said before going up the stairs to her room.

I sighed and rested my head on the pillow, my back facing Rainbow and Applejack who were still sleeping soundly. The fireplace was still burning, but now with only a small fire, enough to warm us for the night, but not dangerous if unattended.

My mind wandered to the events that happened tonight.

At least now I know that Sunshine is safe, it may take a few more days for her to find me, but at least I'm not in the Everfree forest anymore. Never going there again if I can help it...

What troubled me more was the way i broke down. Nopony ever saw me cry, except for Sunshine when we...

No! Don't even think about it, she will find her, and we'll get through this mess.

I sighed and turned around, now facing Applejack and Rainbow, who was drooling on Applejack's coat.

I smiled a bit at them, but lost it in a heartbeat.

Why did she say that I'm part of the family...

Family... What does that even mean, everypony that I ever cared about left. Right now, I'm all alone, like all those years ago.

Don't forget about Sunshine and Mentore, even that ugly mug Sparrow.

I chuckled a bit to myself.

Yeah, I wonder how that bastard is doing. I hope he doesn't kill me the next time I see him...

Hay, I doubt he could. But things change.

I sighed and rolled again, this time staring at the ceiling.

A few days ago, I was running for my life. Now, I have six new friends, and my partner hopefully coming back with an old one.

Yeah. How things change...

I fell asleep, thoughts about leaving my new family, thrown to the back of my mind for the time being.

End of Chapter 7

Everything went better than expected.

Lightning has a new family, much to his dismay...

Damn! Why does he have to be so emo!

Because you wrote me this way?

Shut up you!

Now for the Hype. *Ahem*

The night ended, and a new day will soon come.

What will happen tomorrow?

Will Pinkie's party surpass any expectations?

Will Lightning FINALLY stop being so emo!?

Hey! I take offense to that!

Anyway, find out in the next chapter of...

Will of Fire!