Epliogue
Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash stayed in the hospital for the next few days before they were allowed to be released. Star Shine spent almost all of his time with them, with the occasional trip home if one of them thought of something they wanted. He would also head home briefly to make sure that nothing was missing from the place. One thing he'd had to come to terms with in the past month or so is that you really can't trust every pony. There was no telling who was secretly a sociopath or psychopath. Not that he was likely to ever really run into one again. The day before they left Shining Armor finally stopped by to visit.
“Hey, it's about time!” Rainbow Dash teased him when he entered the room. If it wasn't for what was on his mind he might have responded or played along. He was all business today.
“Sorry Rainbow, Scootaloo, I've been kinda busy up in Canterlot.” Shining Armor said apologetically. He was about to explain what he had been busy with when the door opened again and Star Shine walked in, fresh from a visit back to the house. He had taken a few things back to the house now that the girls were set to be discharged in the morning.
“Shining Armor? I thought it was you I saw come in. How's things?” Star Shine asked, taking his place between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.
“Things are going great, just busy.” Shining Armor replied, smiling weakly. He certainly looked a little tired. He had bags forming under his eyes. “I've got news about your dad Scootaloo. That's why I'm here. Well, that and a little social call I guess.” he explained. Scootaloo tensed up a little at the mention of her dad and then grabbed one of Star Shine's forelegs and held it close. She'd been allowed to sit up now, and just wasn't allowed to put any pressure on her wings.
“Star Shine's my dad now.” Scootaloo said simply, causing Star Shine to laugh in mild embarrassment.
“I told you, not yet. Geez, me and Dashie only just got together, give it a while okay?” Star Shine replied, patting Scootaloo gently. Rainbow Dash did her best to bury her face with her sheets. She couldn't believe this was happening. She popped back out when she realised what Shining Armor had said. If nopony else was going to take this seriously then she would just have to do it herself.
“What happened to him Shining?” Rainbow Dash asked, pulling Scootaloo and Star Shine back into the reality they had been so happy to escape, if but for a moment. Shining Armor turned away from the childish display to face Rainbow Dash properly.
“It's the main reason I've been so busy.” Shining Armor replied with a sigh. He went on to explain what had happened to Grey Feather when he was in custody. He hadn't given them many problems as far as information and questioning had gone. He'd actually been surprisingly cooperative. He knew the evidence was stacked against him and didn't really see the point in trying to get out of what he had done. He'd still had, and started, a few problems however. The main one being that he wanted to press charges against both Star Shine and Shining Armor. Star Shine for tearing his wing out of it's socket, and Shining Armor for proceeding to drop him out of the sky. Shining Armor was able to explain away Star Shine and get everything settled without him even being there. Star Shine had acted out of self defense, and only incapacitated Grey Feather. Even when trying to stop him he had also tried to avoid doing too much damage. Instead of stopping Grey Feather permanently, or trying to rip his wing off totally, he had stopped at simply pulling it out of the socket. The injuries that Grey Feather sustained were nothing compared to the injuries he caused. His was also much easier to treat. Not that he allowed it to be treated. That was where what Shining Armor had done came in to things.
Grey Feather had refused to have his wing treated and even now only had one fully functioning wing even though it had all been settled. He claimed that what Shining Armor had done was nothing but unnecessary brutality and that he was traumatised by the event and might never fly again because he wouldn't be able to handle it mentally. If indeed he, Grey Feather, was incapacitated, then why did Shining Armor feel it necessary to do further damage? Unfortunately for Shining Armor the courts were kind of on the side of Grey Feather. It was true that he was already incapacitated. It was also true that he had been psychologically scarred by his ordeal. At first it seemed like he was just playing it up to cause Shining Armor trouble but then it had become obvious he wasn't. After the initial investigation was completed and the doctor tried to fix Grey Feather's wing, he had cried out and begged to not have it fixed. He never wanted to be in the air again. He didn't even listen to the argument that if he was able to fly, then he would be able to save himself should he find himself in the air again. Over the course of the rest of his life, the injury would become pretty much permanent. It healed as it was and would have to be broken again to be fixed properly, and he refused to let that happen. As more about Grey Feather's past dealings with the law had come out, as well as the way that he had goaded and taunted all three Pegasi, favour started to shift towards Shining Armor. That came out after Rarity, Twilight, and the rest of the Elements discovered the truth through Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Star Shine. The Elements had sway, even if they never used it. Except maybe just once to help Shining Armor. He was eventually exonerated and all that remained was the sentencing of Grey Feather.
“So, what happened to him?” Star Shine asked, breathing a sigh of relief that Scootaloo wouldn't have to go to court and face him again.
“Life imprisonment. The doctor who checked out his wing checked out the rest of him too and said that probably wouldn't be very long. If he holds out long enough to be released, then he'll be confined to the city of Canterlot. I don't think you'll ever see him again.” Shining Armor explained. Star Shine smiled, finding it suitable. As long as he never saw Scootaloo again then that was enough for him. Scootaloo seemed to be content with it too. Rainbow Dash was a little more indignant.
“Life imprisonment? After everything he did that's it? Confined to Canterlot? What kinda punishment is that?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, stamping her foreleg down on the bed.
“It's not up to me to judge him, or say what he should get. I think Celestia and Luna get things that we wouldn't be able to get, and know what they're doing.” Shining Armor replied.
“Celestia and Luna? The Princesses?” Star Shine asked in awe. Shining Armor nodded.
“They sentenced him personally after finding out everything. He nearly killed an Element. They take that kind of stuff seriously.” Shining Armor explained.
“Me? He tried to kill Scootaloo too! And Star Shine!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She didn't like the implication her life was worth more than theirs. Star Shine moved across to her and tried to hold her to calm her down. She struggled at first but eventually leaned into him and calmed down.
“Think about it Rainbow; Luna tried to kill Celestia, Discord tried to kill them both. She chose to banish them instead. She felt awful about what happened to Luna, even though Luna had struck first. Sometimes she still cries herself to sleep over it even though Luna's been back for a while now. Luna still feels a lot of guilt about it too. They know the deep and burning pain that comes with guilt. They torture themselves over what they did to eachother. They know death would have been a sweet release from what they were feeling. I've...I've actually heard Celestia say that. During Luna's banishment there were several times she wished she could just end it all. She kept on going though, because she felt she hadn't been punished enough, and she knew that her sister would be back one day and that the ponies she cared about needed her. They know how much that stuff hurts and what it does to you.” Shining Armor explained.
“He's right you know. Grief and guilt can cut sharper and deeper than any knife in the world.” Star Shine added his own opinion. There were plenty of things he felt guilty about and Rainbow Dash had seen it in his eyes at times. She'd seen the way he would punish himself too.
“Even so...what if he doesn't feel guilty? What if he doesn't care?” Rainbow Dash asked. She saw what Star Shine and Shining Armor were saying. There were things she felt guilty about too. She'd punished herself a lot over Diamond Tiara getting her hooves on Scootaloo's suicide note. That kind of punishment only worked when somepony actually cared about their actions and showed remorse and feeling. To her, Grey Feather was nothing but a heartless and soulless thing who needed to be ended.
“He'll feel it...I'm sure of it...” Scootaloo piped up, surprising everypony. “I've been on my own before. Spent a lot of time by myself. Things get to you, no matter how much you don't want them to. I never blamed myself for my wings or anything until I was left on my own and it ate away at me.” she explained. Star Shine walked back across to her and gently patted her back, taking care to avoid her wings. He was also beginning to wish that he wouldn't have to keep walking back and forth between the pair. It would be much easier on his legs when he got them home.
“To be honest I think it's already starting to get to him.” Shining Armor said, causing all three Pegasi to look at him. “He's a massive drunk and he's obviously not been allowed anything to drink in Canterlot, and won't now he's locked away in the castle. I think he drank to fight away those feelings. He's already started crying himself to sleep and saying one name over and over again.” he explained. That caught Scootaloo's attention.
“Umm...what name?” she asked nervously. She felt that it could only be one of two names, including her own, and hers wasn't likely to be it.
“Dawn Star.” Shining Armor said simply. Scootaloo started crying almost immediately. That was a name she hadn't heard in a very long time. It was one she was surprised she remembered.
“Scootaloo, what's wrong? What is it?” Rainbow Dash asked, worried. She reached out as far as she could and Star Shine got the message. He hopped over Scootaloo's bed and pushed it towards Rainbow Dash's so she could comfort Scootaloo. He'd gotten in trouble for moving the beds and would have to move it back later. A bit of trouble was nothing. Scootaloo meant the most right now. Rainbow Dash put a foreleg around Scootaloo's neck and she leaned into it for comfort.
“It's...it...was...that's...that's my Mom's name...my...my...” Scootaloo said between sobs. She couldn't bring herself to say “birth mother” in case she accidentally made Rainbow Dash feel any less important. Rainbow Dash meant a whole lot to her.
“That's what I thought.” Shining Armor said sadly, looking down at the ground. He almost wished he didn't have confirmation. It might have been better to not see Scootaloo crying like she was. It was at least confirmation that Grey Feather was probably going to torture and torment himself a lot more than any punishment could. The great and terrible threat to Scootaloo had become nothing more than a pitiful waste. Rainbow Dash and Star Shine waited until Scootaloo had calmed down on her own, aware that there wasn't much they could really do to help her. It was painful for both of them to see her like that. After a few minutes she managed to calm back down again.
“Let's err...let's move on to happier things, shall we?” Shining Armor asked nervously once everypony had calmed down and they could move on. “When do you guys get out?” he asked.
“We'll be going home tomorrow.” Rainbow Dash replied, still stroking Scootaloo's mane. Scootaloo herself was still not really in a position to talk much.
“We gotta get Scootaloo's wings fixed up and get her flying again when we do.” Star Shine added. “It might be hard, but I know she'll be just fine.” he added.
“I'll leave you guys to it then. Good luck with it all.” Shining Armor said, nodding a salute and preparing to leave.
“You too. Just do me a favour would you? Next time you visit, make it a social call?” Rainbow Dash teased. Shining Armor laughed as he opened the door.
“Hey that's not my fault. You guys need to stay out of trouble.” he teased back. With that he walked out the door, leaving the Pegasi thinking along the same lines as him, and hoping for the same thing. That this would be it for bad things, they wouldn't get themselves into trouble, and that the next visit would be entirely social.
Well, two out of three ain't bad.
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3587038
You should be fine if you just keep an eye out for me. I hope so anyway. I also think that I want to focus as much as I can on the Scootafamily. I can explore the world outside of their family though that's true. I suppose I'll see what happens 
Thanks for the brohoof and the approval
[aplauso]
I think that ANY assault on any of the Knights of Harmony would be considered high treason against the Crown/Equestria. Good call there.
That definitely was an abrupt ending but I agree with you it felt like a good place to bring the story to a close. Great job
Bravo, Daponi, Bravo! So the bastard doesn't want to fly anymore, because of what Shining did to him? Now he knows how Scootaloo felt when he dropped her. Only he isn't stronger enough to get over it. Plus, he cries himself to sleep each night thinking about his dear departed wife. Yet, I doubt he will ever feel the guilt over what he has done to Scootaloo. He will still use her as the cause of all her problems. That's why I really want him to see Scootaloo fly. To not only rub it in his face that despite everything he did, she overcome it all and can now fly, but also to show she has a lot more perseverance and courage (as well as support) than he does.
I look forward to your next story in this universe.
3587036 no sarcasm intended. Anyway congrats on finishing this series (for now?)
well..... at lest no one died. still i would love to see a fic on how he abused her if ur Evin going to do that and by that i mean her pass life
I love it...best punishment ever
3587036 um nvm that last part hasent read the chapter yet. And glad to hear.
3587164
Thanks, it's always nice when I make the right choice. Were there a wine glass tapping emote I'd totally be using it right now.
3587253
It just means I can start new stories really 
Thanks
3587326
Part of me does want to have that final snap though where he does begin to blame himself for what happened, and wants Scootaloo's forgiveness and love, and dies never having it.
Well as I said I'm not done with the bastard yet, so you may get your wish
See, the writer is always, always the biggest psychopath of all
3587340
The story is finished, but the series will live on
3587364
I wrote it but never published it, and I still don't think I will.
3587530
Why thank you
3587648
Well I hope you've read it by now
3587963 yup.
I think allowing him to be confined to canterlot was rather well let's just say I didint like it beacuse what if scootaloo wants to go see the princess for some party with the elements and stuff like her birth day. Also...this is a little emberacing but how do I favorite your story I'm still learning heh I wanna be able to know if you update.
Nvm I got it.
3588198
It'll always be in our hearts too
3588417
The confining him to Canterlot thing is two fold; One he stays out of Ponyville and two; he's going to be in prison a long time and likely won't survive it. If he ever got out then he would be pretty old, and Scootaloo would be more than capable of handling herself. Not to mention they'd always keep their eye on him too. It's much easier for them to keep their eye on him by confining him to one specific place. Suppose I could have gone into that a little more 
Hehe glad you worked out how to favourite
Dat epilogue.
That is all.
3581699
You're like the Doctor, huh? You hate endings?
If you don't get that... WHOO BOY, have I got something to show you.
3589596
I guess that makes sense yes
3589997
It's not as fine as dat plot, but it's still pretty fine
3590014
Okay you're now 20% cooler
3591629
3601936
"Say it with me now, kids!" "Dat plot!"
As cool as bowties?
3602310
I'm not sure anything can be that cool, but you can dream
3602867
And dream on I shall. I have a goal in life now.
3603094
My girlfriend recently achieved her dream of owning a trench coat by buying three. Dreams are achievable.
3587326
Because I haven't seen you there yet I thought I'd let you know that a sequel has been released
3603475
That was a dream? Jeez, that makes mine look wimpy.
Tell your girlfriend that some random nutter from the ponywebs says Congratulations!
3603870
It was my dream too until a few years ago when I got one of my own. I've worked out how you can be cooler than bow ties though. You need to wear a bow tie and a hat I call a Fezton. It's a mixture of a fez and a Stetson hat. Both are cool separately and together they may be cool enough.
3606164
It's mostly just a great line from Frasier. For the most part though I do believe that there are a lot of things that happen for a reason and there are very few actual coincidences.
3615096
There was more talking in those stories, and there should be more here. There's just a lot of exposition right now
3615096
Ignore that reply, I forgot what story I was on. The same thing kinda applies though. There's a lot more exposition in this story because it's short, but has a lot of action.
this story was short, sweet and to the point. Loved it.
3619206
I had to open up the chapter to agree. It was pretty awesome.
3619306
Dawwws. Dawwws errywhere.
3621475
Hard to believe I could write such a short story after writing one so long. I'm glad you liked it.
Its there another after this? I started the first one a while ago and it became my favorite scootacide and I started the last one yesterday
3665356
There's a sequel yeah but there's not much to it. You'll enjoy it though. Probably. Hopefully
I love the series. Keep up the great work
4142705
I'm glad you've enjoyed it
Aaaaawwhhh! !!!!!
this was sooooo cute !!!!! It's an awesome series I really love it!!
4194151
It's nice to see people still stumbling across these stories and enjoying them 
Thank you very much
4293030
I'm catching up on your comments out of order, but I'm glad you did enjoy the story
To be perfectly honest.... I was SORT'VE expecting more from the sequel of a 150k word story..... <_< To be perfectly honest you could have just shoved this on the end of Working Towards the Future and then it would've been perfect... Instead I had looked this up to find it was so short, was disconnected from the feelings at the end of Working Towards the Future and well..... Yeah.. Went by in an instant comparatively... Not that Im saying you write poorly, more like... You shoulda just shoved it on the end of it.... Heh... heh..
5219403
Woot woot!
5113071
I considered it and it might have been a good idea, but I just felt that the ending to WTTF was perfect how it was. Tacking this on to the end would have just taken away from it. So I get what you're saying and understand where you're coming from, but I think that tacking this on to the end of WTTF would have negatively impacted both stories.
5410559
Yes. Yes it is. Dangit. Thanks for pointing that out. I have to do all my own proofreading and sometimes I mess up. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and I'm going to go ahead and fix that mistake now.
Merry Christmas, cos it happens to be Christmas.
It's amazing:
Despite only reading "I'm Tired of All This" and skipping "Working Towards the Future" for now (due to how many chapters it has), I still found myself completely invested in this story.
Good job with the stories, congratulations