Author's notes

Here we go for another round. Did you readers enjoy the season premier of MLP? I surely did, best one since season 3! I won't spoil anything, but holy crap did they go left field! Hasbro may throw crap at us, but God bless those writers. You know, these are the same writers that made Equestia Girls, if not the same team.

I have no idea what's going on up there, whether it's the company itself pushing the Equestria Girls franchise and the team behind the MLP series is trying to make best of what they got, or something else. I might do a little research on it, but I doubt the team itself would write the EG series if it was their choice. I mean, you write something as good as the season premier and turn around and make crap. What do ya'll think?

Shoutouts:

BaconLettuceTomatoSweg: I was talking about the fandom when it came to being an epic year. ALL HAIL THE SYLVION PLUSH!

UltimateCCC: Crap! How did I get Honesty and Generosity mixed up? Thanks for pointing that out.

Moving things along.

---

Two months later

"I would like to thank everypony for attending the Royal Passing. I, and my sister, am deeply sorry for putting this off for so long. We have just recently been able to set this up."

Sonic had no idea who was missing at this time. Everypony from Ponyville, Canterlot, Appleosa, even a large crowd from Fillydelphia and other cities has gathered to attend. There was no way that Equestria's proud capital could hold so many ponies in one spot. A large, green field just at the foot of the mountain had to be used to hold a very special, and a very sad funeral.

No one has ever seen so many caskets lined up. Their families were up front and centered near the caskets, with the enormous crowd behind them, a crowd so massive that if one were to go on stage and look forward, they will see nothing but a sea of colors. The stage itself was taller than six fully grown stallions, but the podium, the stand that Celestia will be using, is just as tall, but just wide enough to her to trot through. Behind the princesses that were on stage was a wide wall made out of solid gold, with the names of every soldier who has died on duty engraved on the slab.

Of course, Sonic was perched on a tall and flat rock, far from the attendance there. He never fancied himself dwelling in a crowd, where he would have to squeeze himself in just to find a decent spot. Knuckles, Amy, maybe even Tails didn't mind lingering in a crowd like that, but he preferred space. He didn't know whether it had something to do with being crowded, or not being able to move, or may not be as free as in the open, but he didn't like being squished by any crowd. He tolerated lingering in the back for a while until he found Shadow always perching on a high point in events that involved crowds.

The hedgehog knew how to manage; he'll give him that much.

"I've done forgotten about this."

Sonic nearly jumped until he found Tails standing beside him, looking down at the podium with his best friend.

"Hard to watch, isn't it?" Tails asked.

The hedgehog shook his head, taking in a deep breath, "Always… It's something no one can adjust to."

The two continued to watch on as the two princesses continued their speeches. Surprisingly to them, they were calling out every soldier who has fallen, with Celestia telling about everything she knew about them as an individual; even mentioning briefly about their families and friends. The shortest speech given was about seven minutes, but most guards had at least fifteen minutes worth of testimony about each guard.

The two were grieved, but just absolutely astounded. Even the nicest leaders that the Sonic Team knew before couldn't even come close to the amount of detail these two princesses were giving. Just how close was Celestia and Luna were to their soldiers?

"Do you think it would have been better if we did things differently?"

Tails was surprised by Sonic's sudden question.

"I mean, we could have played our plan a little differently back at the Egg carrier. If we weren't so hasty of getting to Eggman, if we would have just waited for him to step inside and simply run after him, maybe some of these guards would have lived. Shadow would have probably been still with us at the beginning, and wouldn't have set against us-"

"You don't know that," Tails immediately answered.

"I know," He sighed, "These ponies would have had a much happier ending if we nor Eggman came to begin with."

"Don't think like that," Tails scolded, "Eggman was going to create that portal no matter what we planned. We were in a hurry to get there, and maybe Eggman had something in place to shut the portal down if he did step through. You can't dwell on the things that might have been; this is the way things worked out. Considering the circumstances, this could have went a lot worst."

Sonic nodded after thinking on those words, "Yea. Sorry about that."

The princesses were still in the middle of their speech, barely making a dent on the long list of guards. The two could tell that Celestia and Luna were fighting back emotions, even though they were trying their best to put on the most sincere smile as they recalled the memories they had with those guards. It was hard to watch.

"So," Tails sighed, breaking the silence, "Have you and Amy gotten along well? I heard that you and Rainbow Dash were planning on taking her to a watch a talent contest later this week."

"Yea," He answered, "She's been getting a lot better. We thought we could show our appreciation to her by taking her out as a group."

Tails nodded with a small smile, "I'm glad. I was surprised that Rainbow was willing to hang out with her."

"It was actually her idea," He corrected, "I was surprised myself that she mentioned it. Guess she didn't completely hate her after all."

Sonic thought back two months ago when his friends were begging him to talk to Amy. Applejack actually persisted the most on him, saying that she learned her lesson and how much she was sorry. It was funny that she threatened to lasso him if he didn't come along.

---

The double doors to the barn, as humble as it looked, was something Sonic didn't want to open. There was only so much he could put up with until he snapped. For all these years, he always believed that there was something in her that was worth keeping, something that earned his royalty and respect, despite the amount of trouble she caused him. When those years ticked by, it was only by her asset to the team that kept her from being kicked out. It didn't manner how many times she forcefully took him on dates, that hammer of hers saved him and his friends countless of times. There was no one else like her.

When she has shown that she was willing to turn on her allies just for her selfish needs, that was the last straw.

His friends shortly after came to him, asking; almost begging for him to go and talk to her. He would simply chase them away, because he already knew what was set in her mind. There was nothing he could say to change her mindset. It continued until some of the ponies became involved, more noticeably Applejack, the element of honesty. Even when she said that Amy was truly sorry, he still refused, only to be forced shortly afterwards.

Hesitantly, he opened the barn doors. The pink hedgehog was the very first thing he saw when those doors cracked. Her figure was slumped against the gate, with her arms and legs carelessly sprawled outward. Her head, of course, was down, with her face covered by her hair. Even from where he stood, he could see a small pool of tears where her head hung.

The cows, cautiously observing and taking respectful steps back, stayed silent as the hedgehog casually walked forward. To his surprise, her head slowly reared up, boldly showing her droopy eyes and tear stains on her face. Her pink dress was covered in dust and hay, badly needing a trip to the washer.

"Sonic?" She spoke, with a low and trembling voice.

He didn't show any sign of sympathy as stopped somewhat close to her, and knelt down to see her face to face. His eyes bore straight into hers, holding a stern glair for a solid minute before speaking.

"I don't want you to apologize, I don't want you to beg, I only want an answer. What did you see in me that was worth hurting others for?"

She only shook her head. Her mind was completely blank, shattered, everything she once took sheltered in has been knocked over and burned with fire.

"What?" He calmly persisted, holding his piercing gaze.

With trembling lips, she spoke. Her blank thoughts couldn't be brought together to compose herself, whatever flew out was from the only source her tongue had. Her heart, "You… You were everything I could ever have wanted."

"And that was worth hurting for?"

She shook her head, trying her best to keep herself from breaking down again, "You were the only thing I saw. Nothing else mattered to me," She took in a deep breath, "Not even your own friends. You gave me something I never had before when we first talked. It was something that gave me a kind of happiness I would have never imagined. I didn't want to lose it. I would have killed for it."

"What was it?" He asked.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her body slumped lower to the ground, shaking her head again.

"I don't know… I thought it was love."

Surprising her, he stood up and broke his eye contact with her.

"I honestly thought it was love," She persisted, "A thing that could only be found in fairy tales, when a prince locks eye with a princess, and knew at that moment that he was meant for her."

He paced around her and leaned against a fence as she continued to talk.

"I held onto it no matter what came our way. I had something that I could call mine, and for a while, I imagined that you felt the same. I thought that I had to make you realize that what was between us was love. When I finally realized what you truly thought of me, I…"

Her voice trailed off, couldn't complete her sentence no matter how much she moved her mouth.

"What do you think I think of you?" He asked.

She turned to him, with tears trying to form.

"A monster. A selfish brat. A nuisance," She began to sob, "A maniac that needs to be locked up."

Sonic stayed quite as she broke down again, letting her shrills of despair ring through the entirety of the barn. For a while, he waited, letting the girl calm down to an extent that they can communicate.

"I screwed up!" She wailed, "I honestly forgot what it was that I hang onto that made me do those things! Love, obsession, whatever it was, I don't want it anymore! I hurt you! I actually hurt you! Something that I would never dream of doing!"

She cried for several more seconds, her emotions spilling out of her mouth like boiling water.

"So that was why." He mumbled.

"I don't expect you to forgive me," She continued, calmer but still shaking, "I'm never going to bother you again; I rather be alone than cause any more harm."

She didn't have the resolve to say anymore. She has spoken everything from the very bottom of her heart, and now, there was nothing else to say. The only thing she did was wait for him to leave. Once he leaves, Applejack will let her go and, with a little bit of courage, move on with her life.

To her shock, she saw him approaching her… Stretching out a hand towards her with a smile.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Helping you up. What else?"

She scooted a bit away from him, as if offended of what he's doing, "Why?"

He rolled his eyes, "You really have to get a hold of yourself, girl. You've done wrong, but why should we hold it against you forever? You're sincere, aren't you? That's all I wanted."

She shook her head, "N-no! I've wronged you for so long, you shouldn't be anywhere near me!"

Sonic felt his palm hit his face with an unnecessary amount of force, "But I forgive you!"

A long and awkward silence ensured between the two of them. Sonic would have been laughing his butt off if she wasn't so serious about it. Taking in a deep breath, he withdrew his hand and spread them in front of himself.

"Tell you what," He sighed, "Let's start this over from the very beginning. Let's pretend that I've just first met you and you dreamed of joining our team. A platoon of robots ambushed us, and you kicked their butts hard enough to have Eggman shake in his boots, and I'm going to assume, unlike last time, you won't try anything funny like drag me to dates or any of that crap," Again, he stretched out his hand, clearing his throat, "Hi! I'm Sonic the Hedgehog! Would you like to join us?"

---

"You have no idea how much more convincing I had to do after we left that barn," Sonic said to Tails, whom was still listening, "I would cut her off every time she mentioned something she did to me years ago."

Tails shook his head, "That was a miracle what happened at the barn. I thought Amy would never mature."

"More than twenty years of putting up with her," Sonic chuckled, "I've done lost all hope for her at one poi-"

He stopped himself mid-sentence when he noticed a strange figure from the corner of her eye. On the street underneath him, just to his left, was a dark silhouette painted on the ground.

"Sonic?" Tails quietly called.

The silhouette had a source that followed to a nearby building behind him. Sonic followed it with his eyes, swiftly looking up the building until he saw something that he would never expect.

It was Shadow, standing on a tall rock watching the funeral ahead… In plain sight. Everyone else below may not have seen him because of the angle they were in, but Sonic could see him as clear as day. Tails immediately took note of him and nearly gasped in surprise.

"What's Shadow doing here?" He quietly asked.

Sonic only shook his head, "No idea. This is the last place he would be right now."

"…Maybe he quietly came to pay his respects?" Tails suggested.

Sonic squinted his eyes to take a closer observation towards the hedgehog in question. The fact that he didn't notice two of his allies staring at him was a wonder, and he understood why when he studied him. He was transfixed, with his sharp eyes staring directly at the scene in front of him.

"I know he's not much for conversation," Sonic mumbled as he approached the ledge, ready to jump off, "But I'm going up there to see if he's okay."

Before Tails had a chance to comment, Sonic quickly and quietly hopped off the ledge, zipping around and began to climb up the rocks that Shadow stood on.

---

Even as Sonic jumped on top of the platform that Shadow stood on, he still didn't notice him. His ears never flinched as Sonic's footsteps pounded on the ground. Sonic was taking slow and casual steps towards him, and Shadow has yet to take note of his presence.

Shadow would have surely noticed him at this point. Sonic was expecting him to swift his head around and cast those daggered eyes at him at any second as he took careful steps towards him… But it never came.

Sonic stopped when he was seven or eight feet away from him, and simply stood where he was.

Celestia's voice echoed throughout the entire vicinity, even if the two were the farthest away from the podium, they could clearly hear her voice as if they were just a couple of feet away from her. Sonic just simply waited, hearing her speech, and watching Shadow as he miraculously stayed oblivious. Five minutes passed, then ten, twenty…

A full half an hour passed and Shadow has not once moved his head, not even glace at his sides. His ears were as stiff as a board as they pointed forwards. Celestia was beginning to close her speech, and Luna was now taking the stage to say her final words before sending these caskets to a newly built burial ground. Sonic took a step closer; it was then, and only then, that Shadow's ears twitched; picking up his foot step.

Strangely, though, he didn't whip his head around in alert. His head slightly turned, not enough for Sonic to see his face.

"Shouldn't you be down there with the others?" Shadow mumbled.

His question completely skimmed the hedgehog's head as he heard his voice. It was quite, gruffed, as if he's been punched in the stomach.

Sonic knew right away that something was wrong; ever since he saw him up on this cliff, he knew something was bothering his twin. With him being present, hiding his face from him, and his pained voice, he only had to put two and two together to know what exactly was wrong with him.

"You do care."

Shadow didn't say a word, only facing what was in front of him. Sonic shook his head and simply walked to his side, giving him the courtesy of not looking at his direction.

"You can't hold these things in forever," He continued, "You know you can trust us, we'll be more than happy to talk."

Shadow simply turned and began to walk away, "No amount of talking will undo this."

"No it won't," Sonic quickly answered, "but you don't have to harbor those feelings," He jogged after him, "It's not wrong to have regret, Shadow, but you can't let it get to the best of you."

Sonic stopped a foot away from him, waiting for a response as the other hedgehog simply stood in place. Suddenly, he turned around, and Sonic nearly recoiled when he saw him. His frown, even though was expressing a hint of anger for most of the he was with them, was slightly trembling. He was taking in long breaths, and studding out chunks of air as he exhaled. Those eyes that were infamous of buckling cold hearted men, the very feature that trademarked him as a calculating and fierce warrior that was willing to put everything on the line for what was good, was reduced to pained tears.

To see someone as vicious and headstrong as he was break down, to look them in the eyes and see the pain he felt. It was something that Sonic would never forget.

"I'm going to be completely honest with you," He said in a low voice, "Ever since I attacked Canterlot, those soldiers did not leave my memory. I remember every face I've killed, every stallion I've slaughtered out of hate for serving their princess."

"But you've been tricked-"

"I've could have went straight for her and ignored the guards, they would have been alive if I was so noble," He spat, "I thought you knew that."

Sonic immediately held his tongue.

"It's not even the breaking of a purpose that's pestering me anymore," He continued, "It's just knowing that I've killed innocent lives, and I can't give them back. I was created to fulfill life, and I've taken it away."

He began to walk away, getting ready to teleport.

"Wait!" Sonic called to him, "Let's just talk about this, we can help you!"

Shadow suddenly stopped and turned around, this time glaring at him with tears tinkling down his cheeks.

"You tell me how I can take back everything I have done since I've been here, and I'll be happy to let you help me."

With that statement hanging high, he turned right back around and summoned a Chaos Emerald in his hand. In a flash, he disappeared; going someplace that no one will find him. Sonic could only shake his head and jump off the rock, relocating Tails with a newly found feeling of defeat. He knew at this point, that there was nothing he could to for him, he can't help his longtime ally without him willing to be helped himself. He, and the rest of the friends, could only watch from the sidelines.

---

One month later

One a warm, sunny morning, on the edge of the Apple fields and on a thick tree branch, was a blue blob of fur with a colorful tail sticking out. If one were to take a closer look, he could see a mare with her hooves wrapped around a dozing hedgehog with one back leg hanging off the tree branch while the other was comfortably tucked beneath Sonic's legs.

It only took an accidental nudge from Rainbow to wake Sonic up, whom was more than happy wrap his two free arms around her back.

"I don't think I remember approving this," She yawned.

Sonic shrugged, "Really? You're free to fly away."

She squirmed a bit, giving very minimal effort to wiggle out of his limp hands. With another yawn, she plumped.

"I can't. I have the lazy."

Sonic sighed, squeezing the pony just a little harder, "Nothing I can do about that… All we can do is sit here and wait for it to pass."

Rainbow nuzzled her head on his chest, "That might take a while, though."

"Too bad I don't have a cure." Sonic chuckled.

The two were about to doze off again until they suddenly felt the whole tree shake. Startled, they shot awake, but not fast enough to react as the tree shook again, knocking them off their tree limb and onto the unforgiving ground below. While the two found themselves in a compromising position, they looked up to see a grinning Knuckles.

"There's nothing a good punch can't fix, isn't it?"

Rainbow snarled, "I orda buck you silly for that!"

Knuckles chuckled until he suddenly found himself pushed to the ground, landing near the two as they jumped in surprise. Applejack stood over the three with a grin of her own.

"Hey, thanks AJ!" Rainbow cheered.

"Ah gotta keep his shenanegians' kept in check sometime," The farm mare answered, "He'd be runnin around prankin' everypony if I ain't watchin em'."

Sonic climbed off of Rainbow and looked to the down echidna, "What happened to the grumpy, serious Knuckles we know and love? What did you do with him?"

"Ah know," Applejack playfully sighed, "He was nothin' like this when we first met. I ain't saw him smile once when he first got here… Now he's grinnin' like a bafoon almost every day!"

Sonic turned to Knuckles again, who was now getting up, "Knuckles, this pony business is too much for ya. You're going to have to stay with us until you get your frown back."

The Echidna shook his head, "What? This is a bad thing?"

"No," Rainbow said, butting in on the light hearted conversation, "You've gone goofy on us, and some of us can't handle goofiness."

"Oh, common!" Knuckles exaggerated, "You put up with Pinkie and Sonic everyday!"

Rainbow was about to retort until his statement caught up to her. She nodded, "Yea, you're right about that."

"Now, I take offence to that," Sonic grumbled, "Rainbow, I'm denying you belly rubs for a whole week."

Dash's ears immediately perked as she turned to him with wide eyes and flushing cheeks, "What? I nev-… You won't do that!"

"Try me," Sonic chuckled, raising his hands, "These fingers aren't a right, honey. They're a privilege."

The group stayed together and laughed, simply enjoying the other's company until Applejack began to trot off.

"Ya give Tails and the others ma regards, Sonic!" Applejack called back to him, "ah'm too busy ta really visit."

"I'd be sure to shout howdy, partner!" Sonic mused, copying her accent.

Applejack rolled her eyes and began to trot away, along with Knuckles, "Be sure ta tell him not to work imself' too hard with dat machine of his. How much more is he like?"

"Plenty!" Sonic shouted back, "Like several months plenty!"

Sonic and Rainbow waved their goodbyes and began to walk off, deciding together to take the road and visit Ponyville for a bit.

"Has Tails ever attempted to build a teleport… Thingy back to your world?"

Sonic shook his head, "He just settled on a blueprint that might work, but he's still trying to iron out the kinks in it, like how is he going to make the emeralds go with us when we go through the portal."

Dash casted her head down, and Sonic immediately picked up on the sudden shift of the atmosphere around her, from lazy and easy going to thoughtful and sad. He learn from going out with her that couples that's grown a bond close and long enough can pick up on each other's mood in the instant that it changes.

"You don't think," Dash began, cutting herself off and picking her words back up, "You don't think that Tails can build it somewhere that you guys can return here?"

Sonic winced, "Uh… I'll talk to him about it, but he's sure that it'll be a one way trip."

Dash simply nodded and became depressingly silent.

"But you know what," Sonic added with a smile, "From the times we had here, I'm sure we'll wind up finding the emeralds again just so we can visit you guys again."

She perked her head up, "Really?"

"Well, Tails is going to build that machine once," He stated, "He can build it again… Unless we get busy saving our world."

Dash gave him a playful nudge, "See, why didn't my friends and I think of that?"

"Maybe because you meditated on the idea that you'll never see us again and over look that one logic?"

The two chuckled while she facehooved, "Give me a break, that is a pretty depressing thought."

Sonic gave her a grin when a lightbulb flashed above her head, "How long do you think your friends will figure that out?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Why? You want me to keep quiet about it?"

"Well… I'm curious about how long it'll take them to catch on. Aren't you?"

Rainbow locked eyes with the hedgehog for a second before returning the grin herself, "Alright, but I'm at least telling Fluttershy; I don't think anypony wants to see her cry."

"Understandable."

---

Morning began to set upon Ponyville. Routine, absence for so long since Sonic has arrived, began to take roots into everyone's daily life once again. It was something that nearly everyone was thankful for, but only a very few has truly taken notice.

Just like every morning, Shadow could be seen perched on a tree near Fluttershy's cottage, watching over Ponyville with slit eyes locked onto the town like a vengeianity. His head never wavered, his senses on full alert and completely aware of his surroundings… Before buckling when the funeral came to his remembrance.

Again, he found his head completely clouded by guilt, his concentration completely broken from the town ahead of him. For a long time, he fought these feelings; forcing those memories to the very back of his mind, only for them to resurface to continually haunt him.

There was no point of denying it. Sonic was right all along, he did care; he cared because those lives meant something, even though they may have meant nothing to him. They were lives that he swore to himself to save, because saving lives was his whole purpose of being created. Maria's death holds testament to that oath; even though he has failed to save someone that has been the closest to his heart, he can at least fulfill his purpose of saving those whom were powerless to protect themselves, using a power only a select few can harness… And he failed. Not only did he fail, but he has slain the very lives he has sworn to protect, even though those lives has sworn to die by the sword.

What does that make him? A criminal? A twisted individual whom very morals are so wrapped and crooked to be beyond reasoning, just like Eggman to create a perfect society?

No, he's not like him, he will never be like him, his morals and views are perfectly clear; black and white. There's no dream worth taking an innocent life, and there's no reason to take one… Period, but yet he has committed that very act.

Is this how famous villains like Eggman came to be? One little act that compromises their morals? It's crazy to imagine someone as notorious as him having a heart at one point, but he remembered a story or two of Eggman's life before he began his reign of terror. One innocent dream of a perfect society, One ground breaking research of advance robotics, one decision to stuff an animal into a machine, a moment of spite and anger against the world, a tale of a man's downward spiral as he held the value of life less and less as he continued to experiment… It's that easy, isn't it?

"What about you? Where were your logic when you killed my guards in Canterlot with those emeralds of yours? Seems like to me you could have went straight for the princesses instead of throwing your weight around, saved yourself a little time instead of waiting it on those who were just trying to protect Equestrian citizens."

"Yea, that's what I thought. Kill me, and you'll prove yourself to be no better than what you fought against. Heck, I see you no better than Eggman anyways. Your thinking made just as much since as his did."

His chest constricted as Shining's words ringed in his ears. He hated that pony, that worthless use of fur has disregarded him more than anyone here, and that 'captain' would never understand the pain that he went through over the course of his life. As much he wanted to deny, that pony was right.

Shadow jumped down from the tree and began to aimlessly strut towards the Everfree forest. Shining Armor had every right to call him a hypocrite, because that was all he was; a hypocrite. It's a title deserved to the most disgusting individuals. To state one thing and do the opposite, to say one believe and practice another. Hypocrites completely blur the lines of morality for the own selfish needs, and their words are no more of worth than filth. He will never be like that, his pride would never allow it!

But that was the least of his concern… What should he do? No amount of vengenanty can ever pay for those lives, there's nothing he can give to amend what the kingdom has loss. The thought of his own values and morals slipping from his fingers as he continues to lives until he truly no longer holds life became a fear, a feeling he has not felt in such a long time. If he can't trust himself to hold those values no matter what, then what can?

…

There was only one option, and he felt his heart, mind, and soul crumble when he thought of the only logical answer.

Shadow approached the bridge of Canterlot as the gate began to loom over him. He made most the trip on foot, only being able to teleport a part of the distance when he placed his Chaos Emerald along with the others… He didn't need it where he was going.

---

He didn't care to look up when a couple of elite guards immediately jumped in front of him, screaming for backup as they slowly, but fearlessly approached him with deadly magic readily charged while pointing their enchanted spears at him. Shadow only raised his palms passively towards them, not moving a muscle.

"No need to be alarmed," He lowly croaked, "Apprehend me, and let me face the waft of the sun and moon."

The guards suddenly stopped and stupidity stared at him.

"You're kidding." One gruffed, expecting him to lash at them at any moment.

Shadow further proved his motives when he slowly got on his knees, putting his hands behind his back, "I mean no one anymore harm. Take me in, or I will walk to the palace gates myself."

The two guards only stared at each other, with several more guards arriving, just as shocked at the first two were. They cautiously approached him, with every unicorn present using their magic to restrict his hands and feet. Shadow felt his hands being crushed, but he doesn't blame them nor hold it again them. Grudges will hold no more point after today.

"Try anything," one said, "and we'll rip them off."

---

Celestia was on her throne within a makeshift chamber near where the kingdom's castle once stood, with a small stack of papers beside her with a quill levitating beside her. Even though repairs to their old castle were well underway, she still needed a designated area to work and function. A whole group of construction workers, as well as a handful of powerful unicorns, managed to make a 20 yard square building near where the castle was. The building itself was something created in a hurry, there wasn't even a roof on top; it was just a plain square building made of basic building material, save a couple of large windows and a ventilation system. There was nothing to say about the inside either; no decorations to show their proud fascination of beauty and art, but a plain white carpet leading to a large chair in the middle back of the building.

No one liked it, especially the nobles since it didn't represent their Kingdom to the slightest, but it would have to do until repairs were done.

Celestia herself, with her sister sleeping in another discrete building not far from her location, was alone tending to business. Even with nobles lined up in front of her making requests and petitions, along with assistances, such as her financial adviser, kept the building busy… She felt uneasy.

While she and her subject kept busy, her mind couldn't help but wonder. There was never a moment in Equestia where there were so many changes and adjustments, especially with their castle decimated. She has tried in all of her power to keep her beloved ponies on a routine and peaceful life.

She was foolish to think that such a thing could be kept forever, no manner what kind of power she had.

She, her sister, as far as she knows for the rest of the kingdom, can take in at least a bit of comfort when they realized that the kingdom was moving forward; rising from the loss and tragedy they have endured, Eggman's capture is a symbol for that, and his now occupied dungeon room is a proud trophy of theirs as well. It's against them to degenerate any life, but Eggman was an exception.

The princesses knew giving the man death would end his now coming suffering as he spends the rest of his days in despair and defeat. It shocked everypony to not give him the death penalty, but when the two rulers were giving news reports access to that dungeon, and actually having the reporters go down there and interview him. The whole kingdom saw why she simply locked him up and threw away the key.

As she was answering a question for one of her subjects, she suddenly noticed a commotion outside. There was a large crowd of nobles gathering outside of the building, with dozens upon dozens of guards marching in a tight circular formation. Before she knew it, the doors swung open, with the guards forming two files and lining up for the next role of ponies to trot in. The nobles inside, frightened with the sudden military presence, slinked to the side of the walls to silently watch.

"What's happened?" Celestia frantically asked, suspecting an emergency.

Not a second later, a large, tightly packed guards trotted in, and cautiously stepped aside to let the captor, with magic restraining his arms and legs, come into her full view. His body was slumped, with his head hung down.

When the princess came over her shock of seeing Shadow being roughed by her own guards, she angrily rose from her thrown, "What is the meaning of this!?"

Immediately, Shining Armor appeared at the entrance with a proud smile, "Shadow has turned himself in for multiple accounts of murder and slaughter, as well as threats against the throne and major property damage-"

The princess sneered as voice calmly but eerily seeped to the captain like a cold storm, "Let… Him… Go."

Her threat was more than enough for the guards restraining the hedgehog to slink away with their tails tucked in, immediately letting the prisoner free as he fell to the floor. Shining Armor, somewhat baffled, backed away with the rest of his stallions.

Celestia approached him, standing over him as he continued to lay motionless. He didn't look up as she spoke to him, "What are you doing, Shadow?"

It was at this moment, that Celestia noticed a large crowd forming from the makeshift building… No, it wasn't a crowd, it was a mob. An angry mob of nobles shouting something about the death penalty as Shadow boldly looked up at her, and spoke with a voice so shaky that Celestia thought he was sobbing.

"I've come to pay a dept, princess."

---

Author's notes

Now, I know I may be a bit slow getting these chapters out with a deadline to boot, but after learning a bit of my circumstances in my life, I do have at least a little bit more time than immediately May, maybe a bit after that.

I predict at this rate, I'll barely slide to home base. As long I can keep my pace up, or with some luck, speed up, I should make it. There are only a few chapters to go.

Thanks for reading, and don't be shy to leave a comment. The more info I have from my readers, the better, good or bad.

May God bless every one of you.

Harry