Night reigned throughout the Pony World and, in Canterlot, several night guards were doing their shifts aroud the capital and the castle, many of them being thestrals, all serving under the Princess of the Night, Luna. In his office, the captain of the Night Royal Guard, Thunder Night, was trying to take care of some paperwork, but he couldn't concentrate at work.
He couldn't stop thinking about his daughter, Moonlight, and how she was still under the influence of the Lord of Chaos. He felt his frustration bubbling inside, as he couldn’t do anything to save her. Through the talks Fluttershy had with Twilight, Star Knight was working tirelessly to bring Moonlight back. That young alicorn stallion was doing what he, as a father, should be doing too.
All this frustration has reached a point that Thunder Night couldn't take it anymore and, with a blow, he threw everything that he had on the table to the floor. Soon after that, the door opened and Princess Luna entered, saying:
"Thunder Night, I would like..."
But then she saw the mess that her captain had just done. Noticing her presence, Thunder Night hastened to say, while starting to get what he had thrown to the ground:
"I'm sorry, Princess Luna, but..."
"I understand" she said. "I understand that you're going through a tough period with everything that happened to your daughter. But, please, Thunder Night, you have to control your emotions. Don't let them control your actions. I know from experience that nothing good comes out of there."
"I know, Princess Luna, and I'm trying to control myself as much as I can" Thunder Night said. "But I just can't accept the fact that my daughter is lost... and there's nothing I can do to bring her back."
"Don't say that, Thunder Night" Princess Luna said. "You don't know what the future awaits. Maybe an opportunity to save your daughter might appear. You just have to have faith."
"Honestly, my faith has seen better days" Thunder Night confessed.
"This world has been through situations that seemed to have no hope" Princess Luna said. "However, they were always resolved, no matter how hard it was. I'm sure the same will happen to you."
Princess Luna’s words worked as a wave of comfort that Thunder Night hadn't had in a long time. He smiled and said:
"Thank You, Princess Luna."
She made a nod and then prepared to leave, but then turned to Thunder Night:
"And, if you don't mind, Thunder Night, I'd like you to clean this mess before any of your guards sees it. It would be quite unpleasant to them to see their captain in a... vulnerable state. "
"Of course, princess” Thunder Night replied with a nod.
And she closed the door. Thunder Night started to take what was thrown to the floor when he suddenly heard a voice saying:
"Wow, and I was thinking Heartbeat’s room was pretty messy."
The thestral turned and faced Golden Paladin.
"The General of Peace?" he asked. "Here?"
"I know that you may look surprised, but I have a reason to be here" he said. "I have an information to give you and a request to make of you. First, I think it's best to start with the information."
"And what is that?" Thunder Night asked.
Golden Paladin waited a few seconds to take a deep breath and said:
"A few moments ago, Hollow Shades was invaded by two servants of the Lord of chaos. To be more precise, by Adagio... and your daughter, Moonlight. "
That information shocked Thunder Night who said:
"What?"
"I know you probably don’t believe in what I'm saying, but it's entirely true" Golden Paladin said. "They appeared there and subjugated all the inhabitants with their voices."
"It can't be..." Thunder Night said, still not believing that Moonlight had invaded and attacked the village where his own father had grown up and where he used to take her when she was a little filly. “Why did they..."
"They wanted information, something that only the elder of Hollow Shades could reveal" Golden Paladin said. "Don't worry, despite being a little shaken, she's fine. But I fear that she has told them what they wanted to know."
"And what was it?" Thunder Night asked.
"This leads me to the request that I want to do to you" Golden Paladin replied. "You see, Adagio and Moonlight are after the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails and I want you to find him first and take him in."
"Why me?" Thunder Night asked, surprised by Golden Paladin be asking that.
There was a pause and then Golden Paladin replied:
"This may be a bit of a shock, but it turns out that this Jinchūriki... is your older brother, Echo Wing."
That revelation left Thunder Night astonished.
"What?" he asked. "But that's impossible. How is that my brother may be..."
"Well, as far as I know, the Three-Tails was captured by a thestral kingdom in the Pony World" Golden Paladin said. "However, the Lord of Chaos was able to bring it down and the Three-Tails was lost. You were born in Hollow Shades, but the rest of your family was not, was it?"
Now that Golden Paladin mentioned that, Thunder Night began to think better. That was true, his mother had reached Hollow Shades, pregnant and with a four-year-old colt, and she got shelter by the Elder and the other. When Thunder Night was born, she could not survive the birth and he and his brother had to grow up without their mother. They remained together until Thunder Night’s adolescent, when Echo decided to live his own life and let his own brother in Hollow Shades. But, after all, he never bothered to learn more about his family, since that nothing would change the fact of having lost it.
"What you're saying is true?" Thunder Night asked.
"Do you think I would kid about a thing like this?" Golder Paladin counter-asked. "That's why I want you to find him and bring him. He is the Jinchūriki of Three-Tails. With the One-Tail and the Two-Tails now captured, he is next on the list."
"And what's that have to do with me?" Thunder Night asked. "Sorry, Golden, but it would be better if you could send another pony. My brother and I haven't spoken since he left me and I prefer to keep it that way."
"You're still brothers, you are family."
"No, Fluttershy and my kids are my family. Echo Wing doesn't mean anything to me."
"But, still, you have blood ties" Golden Paladin said. "Are you going to tell me you don't care at all that your brother is captured by the villains of the Lord of Chaos?"
With the General of Peace putting things in that way, Thunder Night couldn't stop thinking that maybe the fact that your brother was in danger may disturb him a bit.
"If we stop his capture, we can stop the plans of Lord of Chaos" Golden Paladin continued. "In addition, given to the fact that Adagio and Moonlight are after him, it is quite likely that you will meet with them."
Golden Paladin knew saying that phrase was the key, as Thunder Night sighed and said to him:
"I accepted. Where do I start looking?"
It didn't take long for Thunder Night, at the next night, starting flying in search of his brother. He had a compass that had been enchanted by Golden Paladin with a location spell and that pointed to where Echo was. While flying, Thunder Night couldn't stop thinking about his moments with Fluttershy before embarking on the search for his brother.
A few hours ago…
At the cottage, Thunder Night was preparing his saddlebags to leave in search of his brother. While he was doing that, Fluttershy approached her husband.
"Is Dark Cloud already asleep?" Thunder Night asked to Fluttershy.
"Yes" she replied. "Although it has been difficult to do that. He misses his sister."
"That's why I'm going to find my brother" Thunder Night said. “Golden said Moonlight and Adagio were trying to capture the Three-Tails, the Tailed Beast that is inside Echo. If I find him, I will also find our daughter and I can try to bring her back."
"I don't know if you should go, Thundy" Fluttershy said. "What if something happens to you? I've already lost Moonlight and I couldn't bear if something happened to you."
Thunder Night put his hoof on Fluttershy’s face.
"You know I have to do this. Furthermore, you have nothing to fear. You know it's hard for anypony to be able to tear me down."
Although she know that Thunder Night was just saying that to comfort her, Fluttershy couldn't resist in drop a smile. The two gave a kiss then.
In the present...
Focusing on his goal, Thunder Night proceeded to continue his mission to find Echo Wing. Following the compass, he followed to southwest of Equestria until, finally, a destination sure popped up in front of him: Las Pegasus.
The city, just like Cloudsdale, as located at the sky, glowing with the lights of its extravagant buildings. Even at night, it was possible to envision the bohemian life the ponies of Las Pegasus lived. He was glad Fluttershy was not with him, as she wouldn't want to be in a place so energetic and flashy like that one.
Landing, Thunder Night roamed the city, watching the compass, which guided him to a hotel. Entering there, he walked up to the receptionist and asked:
"Excuse me, I wonder if there's a thestral staying here."
After achieving the information he wanted, Thunder Night addressed the room where his brother was. When he got there, the door opened and a beautiful earth mare came out.
"Hello..." she greeted him with a seductive smile.
And she moved away. That made Thunder Night roll his eyes as he knew how much Echo was a marenizer. Only with that proof, he could predict that his brother hadn't changed anything in all those years. Thunder Night still hesitated, but knocked on the door and opened it.
Sitting in front of a mirror was Echo. He looked just like Thunder Night, but the mane and tail had lighter colors and the eyes were bright green. On his flank, there was a waterspout as Cutie Mark. Despite being older than Thunder Night, he was slightly smaller and didn't have the same musculature that his younger brother had.
"Did you forget something, love?" he asked, combing his mane, thinking that Thunder Night was the mare that had just come out.
"It's amazing" Thunder Night said. "You're still the same."
That made Echo turn and, after watching Thunder Night closely, said:
"Thundy? Is that you? Well, what a surprise. Look at you, you're all grown up. It seems that these years have favored you well."
Thunder closed the door and said, while advancing a little:
"So this is what you've been doing all these years? Going from one side to the other, while involving with a different mare every night?"
What made Echo roll his eyes and then ask, rising up:
"That's why you came to me? To criticize my lifestyle? I don't know if you have noticed, but not everypony can become a captain of the Royal Guard."
"I'm impressed, you know what I do for a living" Thunder Night commented. "I thought you didn’t care that much about me, taking into account that you left me when you barely got to adulthood."
"Come on, Thundy, we're too matured to be reliving the past" Echo said.
"I believe I am the only one who can be called matured in this room” Thunder Night said, continuing then with a grumpy voice. “ And don't call me Thundy. Only one pony can call me that and you're not her."
"I used to call you that when we were kids" Echo said.
"Yes, I know…" Thunder Night replied.
There was a pause and then Echo said, turning his back:
"Well, if you only came here to discharge your accumulated anger for me having abandoned you, then I invite you to leave. After all, we're only a few hours before the sun rises."
Realizing he was giving up to his rage for Echo, Thunder Night took a deep breath. He had to focus on the mission that Golden Paladin had trusted on him.
"Actually, I came for another reason" Thunder Night said.
"Oh, and why else would my dear younger brother come to me?" Echo asked cynically, as he contemplated his mirror image.
"I'm here to take you in" Thunder Night replied.
That statement made Echo turn to his brother and ask:
"To take me in?"
"I know you're a Jinchuriki" Thunder Night said. "And the General of Peace asked me to take you in."
"Really?" Echo Wing asked, seaming amused with what Thunder Night said. "Do you really think you will be able to do it? It’s just, you know, I have absolutely no intention of going with you."
"I don't know if you know this, but the Jinchuriki are being chased by quite dangerous villains" Thunder Night said. "They are hunting the Tailed Beasts and they already captured two and the next one is Three-Tails… yours."
"Well, that sounds pretty scary" Echo said, with a tone that Thunder Night recognized as the way how his brother expressed sarcasm. "You don't have to worry, little bro. I can handle any thug that appears to me."
"You don't understand, these villains are anything but thugs" Thunder Night said. "They are very dangerous and powerful individuals. If they find you..."
"Is that concern what you are expressing towards me, Thundy?" Echo asked. "I am very touched, but it's unnecessary. I can take care of myself. I don't have to be a royal guard to know self-defense."
Thunder Night rolled his eyes. He had to do something, since Echo was underestimating the villains of the Lord of Chaos. Although one of the reasons for accepting that mission from Golden Paladin was because there was a chance to be reunited with Moonlight again, he knew he probably would have to face her and Adagio and that was something he wouldn't like to do. He had to get Echo and take him to Golden Paladin as soon as possible.
"Sorry, Echo, but you're coming with me, whether you want it or not" Thunder Night said.
He intended to move against his brother, but then something grabbed him strongly. When he saw what was holding, he realized it was another Echo.
"What the..." he began.
"You know, Thundy, despite all the drawbacks of being a Jinchuriki, there are some positive aspects" Echo said, approaching. "For example, I now can't use elemental manipulation, something that Three-tails taught me to do. What do you think of my water clone? It is quite useful for attack attempts as predictable as yours."
"You're making a big mistake" Thunder Night said, while trying to release himself from the clone.
"Why?" Echo asked. "Because I don't want to go with you see that General of Peace?"
"No, because you think something like a water clone is able to hold me!" Thunder Night replied.
And, having said this, Thunder Night was surrounded by a dark aura that he freed in form of energy. This explosion was able to launch the clone that was arresting him and then it crumbled in water.
"What the..." he began.
"You're not the only one who knows how to use elemental manipulation" Thunder Night said. "Since a few weeks ago, Princess Luna taught me to release my nature. I may not have a sophisticated elemental manipulation like unicorns, fairies or alicorns, or even you, but I'm sure this is sure enough for me."
At that moment, Thunder Night started a fist fight with Echo. The older brother was trying to dodge the blows of the younger brother, but Thunder Night was clearly faster and stronger, which made it quite tricky to do so. Using all his dexterity, Echo was able to hit with his hoof on Thunder Night’s chest with a force that made the younger thestral backward a little.
"Impressive, Echo, but you need to do more than that to catch me" Thunder Night said.
However, Echo showed a smile and asked:
"And how do you know I didn't do that already?"
That question puzzled Thunder Night, but it was then that he noticed somethingat the place where Echo hit him. It seemed to be a rock formation that, after appearing, began spreading through Thunder Night’s body.
"What is this?!" he asked, pulling back, while the rock was still spreading through his body.
"It's coral" Echo replied, while his brother fell on the ground, with his movements limited. "My specialty as Jinchuriki. I didn't want to use it on my dear little brother, but you gave me no choice, I'm sorry."
After this, he quickly prepared his saddlebags, while Thunder Night tried to break free of the coral that was restricting his movements. After he had packed his things, Echo said:
"Don't worry, the coral will eventually fade away. In the meantime, why don't you relax a little? This room is paid for one more day. In addition, it's almost dawn. Goodbye, little brother."
And, having said this, Echo left.
After leaving the hotel, Echo rushed to fly away from Las Pegasus. He flew to North until he reach a small forest by the river. He landed there, knowing that he would have to camp out there, since the sun was about to rise. However, when he was about to get in the forest to find a place that was completely sheltered from the star of the day, Echo felt a strange presence, followed by hoofsteps approaching, he turned and then somepony punched him in the face, throwing him to the ground.
"This was for having me imprisoned in coral" his younger brother’s voice said.
Echo looked, getting astonished at the sight of Thunder Night ahead of him, completely free from the coral he used to arrest him.
"How did you...?" Echo began.
"How did I get rid of your little trick?" Thunder Night asked. "Actually, it was simple. Golden Paladin gave me a potion that he said I would know when to use it, if you didn't want to come voluntarily. It seems he was right to give it to me. The potion dissolved your coral very quickly. About how I found you… I just used the same trick that I used before. In addition, I am a lot faster than you, Echo. Advantages of having been trained by the best."
"Well, I have to admit, you surprised me, little brother" Echo said, rising up. "But I'm sorry it was in vain. I still don't want to go with you."
"Don't you understand what's at stake?" Thunder Night asked. "You're in danger. You have powerful villains behind you. You're a Jinchuriki, you should..."
"You know, it's because of that I won't go with you" Echo said, with his smile fading from his face. "If you had come with concern for me, maybe I would go. But it seems that this is not the case, isn't it?"
There was a pause and Thunder Night asked:
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that you looked for me precisely for being a Jinchuriki, to stop me from being captured" Echo replied. "Probably, you're going to put me in a cell or confine me to a room where I can have all the comfort I want, except getting out. You who are not Jinchuriki cannot understand what I and the other Jinchuriki feel."
There were another pause and then Echo asked Thunder Night:
"Do you know the reason why I am a Jinchuriki, Thundy?"
"Because our family came from a kingdom that had captured a Tailed Beast" Thunder replied.
"I see that you only know part of the story" Echo said. "But there is much more to be told. Did you know that Jinchuriki has always been used as weapons. The Enchanted Forest kingdoms fought amongst themselves to be able to get a Tailed Beast so they could create their own Jinchuriki, and even some of the kingdoms of the Pony World did the same thing. The kingdom where our parents lived, the kingdom where I was born, managed to capture Three-Tails and seal it in a Jinchuriki. But of course, not even Jinchuriki are able to escape death. And when my predecessor was on the verge of death, the king and his council had to choose a new Jinchuriki and they chose me. I had just been born and they decided my fate."
"But… you were just a newborn foal" Thunder Night said.
"In order to have the most perfect Jinchūriki, in addition to compatibility, the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beast must grow in harmony and the best way to do that is to seal the beast in a young vessel" Echo said. "And, among all the foals, I was chosen just for being related to the King. Yes, we are royalty. Or rather, we were, since the kingdom no longer exists. It is quite common to use Jinchuriki that belongs to the same lineage as the leader of the kingdom they inhabit in order to prevent betrayals. And you can't even imagine how much I hate all those who chose me. Because of them, I had to endure a lot of rejection. Do you know what that does to a colt when he has no friends because they are more concerned to maintain distance, afraid of being attacked by a monster with three tails?"
Hearing Echo saying that, Thunder Night began to feel his heart getting heavier by his brother. He had never thought that Echo could have had such painful foalhood.
"And when our mother told me I was going to have a little brother, I was overjoyed” Echo continued. "After all, I could finally have somepony who could be with me, play with me, without judging me because of something that was inside of me. But then our kingdom fell. Our mother was able to escape with me thanks to the help of our father who sacrificed himself so that his family could be safe. After that, she got to Hollow Shades, where you were born."
"And where mom died giving birth to me..." Thunder Night said.
"Yes..." Echo said. “But, you know, after all, I thought we two could still be a family. That we were going to stay together, no matter what. And that thought was real to me during the years that followed."
"So why didn't you do that?" Thunder Night asked. "Why did you abandon me? Do you know by chance how I suffered when I realized that my older brother wasn't there for me? It made me feel like if you didn't want me in your life."
"You want to know why?" Echo asked back. "I tell you why. It was because of what was inside me. The ponies of Hollow Shades found out I was a Jinchuriki. And if you thought it was hard for me to integrate for being a stranger, so it was almost impossible after they got to know the truth. I endured their scorn for years until I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to take you with me, but I knew you'd be best in Hollow Shades, where you could be anyone. And it looks like I made the right choice, taking into account who you are now."
Hearing what Echo had said made Thunder Night finally understand the reason why he abandoned him in Hollow Shades. After all, it was for the love that Echo had for him that he left him, knowing that he could have the life he had today.
"However, in spite of everything, I can't go with you" Echo said. "I had to sacrifice my happiness with the only family I had to be able to escape all that marginalization. I don't want to go back to it, or else all these years that I've been away from you, little brother, will have been in vain."
"I understand what you're saying, Echo, but you can't run forever" Thunder Night said. "If you do, you will continue to be the coward I always thought you were. If you want ponies to accept you, then you have to fight to earn that."
"It's easy for you to say" Echo answered. "You're not a Jinchuriki. How can you say that if you don't know what I've been through?"
"I may not have experience on how Jinchuriki are treated, but I'm a witness” Thunder Night answered. "I know two Jinchuriki who have struggled to be recognized, despite the indifference and discrimination to which they were subjected. And you know what? They are doing it. One of them is the leader of his people, while the other strives every day to get stronger and defeat these villains who are collecting the Tailed Beasts. You can be like them, Echo, you just have to want to."
Echo Wing mused in the words his brother said and began to realize that he was right. He couldn't continue to run away from his problems, since being a Jinchūriki was a burden he would have to endure for the rest of his life. After all, not all of the ponies were the same and maybe he could find a place to live where he wasn't judged for having something inside him capable of destroying entire populations.
"What are we waiting for?" Echo asked. "Take me to this General of Peace."
That made Thunder Night smile and then he said:
"I'm glad that you made the right decision, Echo."
"But what sentimental..." a voice said.
Thunder Night froze upon hearing that voice. He turned and faced with Adagio and Moonlight a couple of hooves away.
"I never thought you were the type to do motivational speeches... dad" Moonlight said, coldly.
"But, on the other hoof, you saved us a lot of time chasing this elusive Jinchuriki" Adagio said. "Let the show begin."