Here we go; the ninth chapter of Risky Romance! This contains references to "Pinkie Pride", "Simple Ways", and "Filli Vanilli". This and the next chapter was going to be one whole chapter, but something told me to split it in half.

---

Chapter 9: Justice at Last

"Something doesn't quite get me," said Spike, "Princess Celestia, but how did you know about their love predicament?"

The pure white alicorn smiled. "When you've been paying close attention to those you care about," she said, "sometimes you can sense their worries."

"I told her everything," said a voice.

Everypony turned to see a familiar yellow Pegasus with a blue mane.

"Vincent?!"

"You're the one who told Princess Celestia what was going on?" asked Rarity.

"Every last detail," replied Vincent, and explained everything. After he finished, he noticed Comet Tail being taken away by Shining Armor and Vanguard, and went over to him.

"I warned you to leave Twilight alone," Vincent said firmly, "but you just refused to listen. And now look what's happened to you; I think you've gotten what you deserve."

Comet Tail didn't reply; the sulky look on his face did the talking for him.

"Hey, you're one of Twilight's friends; Vincent, right?" said Cadance.

"That's me," the yellow Pegasus smiled, turning to face her.

"I remember now; you were at Twilight's coronation and made the painting of her."

"That I did." Vincent turned his attention to the light orange Pegasus. "Ah, and you're Flash Sentry, I presume? Vincent van Colt's my name." He held out hid hoof to shake, which Flash did.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Vincent," smiled Flash, "Twilight told me about you, but I'd never thought I'd meet you in pony."

"Nor did I," replied Vincent, "after all, I don't get out of Ponyville very oft… Hey, what's happened to your wing?"

Flash looked at his right wing; he'd almost forgotten that Comet Tail injured him badly.

"Comet Tail happened," sighed Twilight, rolling her eyes, "but still, it's a miracle he survived the raging waters and that I was able to save him."

"That must've been brave of you, Twi," smiled Vincent, "I bet many mares wish they were you."

"Oh, I don't know about that," giggled Twilight modestly.

"No, seriously; you're almost an example to us all. So, Flash, will you be heading back to the Crystal Empire to perform your duties?"

"He isn't, sadly," Cadance explained, "but Shining Armor's given Flash time off to recover from his injuries."

"And he let him stay in Ponyville during his absence," added Twilight, smiling big, "this means he'll get to know my friends a little more!"

"I love that idea!" Pinkie squeaked excitedly, "I should tell you about when Twilight and I first met, or maybe our fun time at the Grand Galloping Gala! Ooh! How about when Rainbow Dash pulled off that sonic rainboom?!"

"Easy there, sugarcube," said Applejack, "there's gonna be plenty of time to do that later."

"For now, let's just go home," said Rainbow Dash, and everypony agreed with her.

---

When they made it back to Ponyville, and after a few days in hospital, Flash stayed at Golden Oak Library for his wing to recover, but his hooves were fine. Flash found his time off guard duty far from dull, and he got a chance to enjoy the peaceful life in Ponyville for the first time in years, and made new friends like Spike and the Mane Six – he even befriended Caramel, Thunderlane and Time Turner!

As Flash lay on Twilight's bed, the princess herself was writing down the latest friendship lesson on the journal she and the Mane Six shared.

"Over the last few weeks," she wrote,"I've learned a very strong lesson not just about friendship, but more importantly, love. While it's true that jumping right into a relationship with somepony you've just met isn't the smartest thing to do, if you take the time to get to know one another and bond, then it'll be worth all the time in the world.

However, jealously from others is very serious for it can affect your relationship in terrible ways. But thankfully, one's jealously can lead to his or her downfall. I'm sure Comet Tail learned his lesson about that the hard way.

But what he hadn't learned, and Princess Celestia summed that up perfectly, 'what mares want from a stallion is their honesty, bravery, kindness, and their will to put the needs of others ahead of their own.'"

"Speaking of," said Flash, "what's happened to Comet Tail? Was he sent to prison?"

"No, it's not that," said Twilight, smiling slightly, "but I had suggested something else to Shining Armor that wasn't extreme as prison…"

---

Comet Tail had been sentenced to eighteen months' community service, being watched over by Vanguard during that time to make sure he didn't cause trouble.

For the first part, he was to assist Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner in preparation for Rainbow Dash's upcoming birth-iversary (her birthday and the anniversary of her moving to Ponyville) with baking goods and helping to babysit the Cake twins, Pound and Pumpkin.

"Hmm, maybe this punishment isn't as bad as I anticipated," he said as he helped in icing the cake. As he did so, the twins crawled on his back.

"Giddyup!" they giggled.

Then again, I could be wrong…

---

"Augh! I spoke too soon, didn't I?!"

The next pony Comet Tail was helping was Applejack at Sweet Apple acres. Right now, the light yellow unicorn was bucking apples off the trees… or at least, he was trying to.

To make it even more miserable for him, Caramel was nearby carrying two buckets full of apples.

"If you can't pick apples properly, why don't you talk to a mare?" he suggested cheekily, "You know how much you like smooth talking mares."

"You stay out of this!" snapped Comet Tail, "Come on, apples – at least FALL!"

But the apples didn't; they stuck firmly onto their branches.

"Stupid tree!" He whacked the trunk with his rear hoof in frustration. That caused an apple to shake off its branch and Comet Tail's horn got the apple stuck through it.

"Ugh!"

Caramel was laughing at his predicament, and so was Applejack.

"Well, at least ya got one apple down," the light orange earth pony chuckled.

"Shut up! It wasn't funny!"

"Oh, get used to it," Caramel grinned innocently.

Comet Tail just scoffed in annoyance. Then he heard somepony clearing his throat from behind him; Comet Tail turned to face Big Macintosh, and behind the large red stallion was a cartload of apples.

"You expect me to take it down to Ponyville, don't you?"

"Eeyup."

"Can't somepony else stronger than me do it?"

"Nnope."

"Rats…" Even Big Macintosh had a chuckle at Comet Tail's expense.

---

Shortly after, Comet Tail was to help Rarity; she had asked him to pose for her newest clothing fashion for the upcoming Ponyville Days festival.

"The indignity," he grumbled, "I can't believe I'm playing dress-up, and now other stallions will think I'm a sissy!"

"Well, I'd rather not say it," said Rarity firmly as she placed him in a dress, "but it does serve you right for what you've done."

Comet Tail didn't respond and just grumbled again. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again; "Does this make me look fat?"

Rarity didn't reply; she just darted awkwardly around.

"I… don't know how to answer that properly," she replied, feeling awkward that Comet Tail would ask something like that.

---

The day after the Ponyville Days festival, Comet Tail next helped Rainbow Dash.

"What am I doing again?" he asked, wearing heavy protection.

"You're acting as a training dummy for training Pegasi," explained Rainbow Dash.

"Training dummy?! You wouldn't-!"

"Wanna bet?" the cyan Pegasus smirked.

"Ah…" Comet Tail couldn't answer; he just gulped. Soon Rainbow Dash had Comet Tail decked out, ready to be rammed into.

"Okay, trainees," called Rainbow Dash, "let him have it!"

"Let me have what-?!"

But before he could finish, he was tackled by the young Pegasi!

"Augh-aaaaah!"

Inside, Comet Tail prayed that helping Fluttershy tend with animals, after the live performances of the Ponytones, would be more relaxing.

---

Please, Fluttershy; have me look after bunnies or squirrels…

It wasn't Comet Tail's lucky day; to his shock and disappointment, he was given a…

"BEAR!"

Comet Tail screamed in terror as he was chased by the large, brown creature, and ended up in a tree.

"I think he's cranky because you woke him up from his nap too early," said Fluttershy.

"Never mind that, just get that beast away from me!"

Fluttershy flew off and soon came back with a hive full of honey.

"Wait, is that a beehive?!" His answer came straight in the form of angry bees glaring crossly at him.

"Uh oh…"

While Fluttershy gave the bear some honey, Comet Tail ran fast as he could from the angry bees.

"Oops… I should've made sure there weren't any bees in there," Fluttershy said sheepishly. After a few minutes, Comet Tail had been stung from head to hoof.

"Ugh!" he groaned in pain; he did not like it one bit!

"I'll get you some ointment," Fluttershy offered, and she flew off to get some.

"Best news I've heard since my arrest," Comet Tail muttered sarcastically.

---

At Golden Oak Library, Shining Armor was making a visit to see how Twilight and Flash were doing.

"I hope they're doing alright," he said to himself. He knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, Twilight answered it.

"Hi, B.B.B.F.F.," she smiled.

"B.B.B.F.F.?" Flash asked, confused.

"Big Brother Best Friend Forever," Twilight explained, before turning back to Shining Armor, "what brings you here?"

"Just wanted to see how you're getting along," the white unicorn smiled.

"If you're asking, my wing's much better than it was before," said Flash, "a bit of pain, but not as serious."

"Glad to hear," said Shining Armor, "also, I wanted to thank you for saving my sister."

"Not the first time I've done it," said Flash modestly. Shining Armor looked confused.

"Do you remember when I ended up lost and you wanted to thank the colt for helping me find my parents?" asked Twilight.

"Yes, I do," answered Shining Armor, "you said somepony helped you."

"Well," said Twilight, "that somepony who helped me is right in front you." She gestured to Flash.

"You mean," Shining Armor began to ask Flash, "that you're the one who helped Twilight all those years ago?"

"The same," replied Flash, feeling a little nervous inside. Oh jeez, I didn't say anything to upset him again, did I?

But to his relief, Shining Armor just smiled.

"Well, I guess that's two things I ought to thank you for, one of them many years overdue," he added with a chuckle.

"Just doing my job," smiled Flash.

Just then, Vanguard showed up with Comet Tail not far behind him. The three ponies gasped at the sight of Comet Tail.

"What happened to him?" asked Twilight.

"He was stung by an angry herd of bees," Vanguard explained, "shortly after being chased up a tree by a bear."

"Chased by an angry bear and angry bees?!" Flash couldn't help but laugh, and so did Twilight and Shining Armor. "Looks like karma finally caught up to him."

"It's not funny!" Comet Tail snapped angrily, "Well, Princess Twilight, let's get my community service for you over with…"

"I think you'll like it," Twilight grinned, "all you have to do is reorganize all the books in the library."

"As long as I don't get in- Wait, what?!"

"You heard her," Flash grinned, "best get started."

With her magic, Twilight pulled all the books off their shelves and they landed on the floor.

"Great, this'll take forever," Comet Tail grumbled as he set to work. Maybe it'd be best if I was in prison after all…

---

Yeah, bad luck, Comet Tail! Some stallions have it, and some don't. Read on for the final part...