“And that’s all?” Inspector grump asked Flash.
Besides Discord helping him? Besides that he had lied about his mission with Shining to the Outpost? Besides that he hadn’t said a single thing about his mark or biological family?
“Yes, Sir,” Flash replied with a grin.
“Then you’re free to go,” The inspector nodded at Flash, “Thank you for your help in collecting information for the thing’s trial.”
Flash kept his anger in check and resisted the urge to tell him that the thing was named Cocoa Print and preferred to go by it.
He instead nodded and headed towards the door. He had some difficulties accomplishing this as his body still had a significant number of bruises and breaks. Chrysalis had not been very gentle in her one sided beatdown of him.
Flash opened the door and found himself back in the east wing of the castle. If he turned right he would eventually reach the castle entrance. Flash went left.
That was the way to the dungeons and Flash hadn’t done his daily begging to see Cocoa.
Flash winced as he felt pain rocket through his body with every step he took.
He had been released from the hospital four days ago, though ‘release’ might have been a strong word. After having broke multiple windows over the course of his stay, those glass shards had hurt, and the repeated failures of the staff in keeping him in bed, he was certain that the doctor had just got sick of him and signed his release.
And really, despite their bold claims, he didn’t have any ‘serious injuries’. Broken limbs hardly counted as ‘grave’. The only thing that might have been a little bad was the head trauma and ugly purple bruise around his neck from where Chrysalis had been trying to crush his windpipe.
Flash had already known that the broken bones would be nothing. His mark came with a handy dandy accelerated healing rate for reasons Celestia could never quite figure out. He supposed his bones mending themselves back together in less than a few days was a bit more than abnormal, but he couldn't be blamed for what his mark did.
Also, the look on the doctor’s face after giving him an x-ray scan was hilarious. He had never seen a pony look so shell shocked.
Besides that, the purple bruise will eventually fade away and, at most, leave behind darker fur patches around his neck.
The slight rasp in his voice was likely permanent.
Besides his voice alteration, he barely felt the physical pain due in no small part to his high pain tolerance caused by repeated use of his mark. He hadn’t winced from that, but rather from something much worse.
He hadn’t seen Cocoa in two weeks.
He had woken up two days after the wedding and been forced to stay in the hospital for eight. During that time, Cocoa had been being interrogated in the Canterlot dungeons. Alone. He didn’t need to know what was being done to him. He could feel everything through his mark.
The physical pain from the beatings, the exhaustion from being trapped for two weeks in a dark cell, and the loneliness.
The loneliness was what was driving Flash to near constant pain.
He wasn’t there. He wasn’t by his colt friend’s side when he desperately needed him to be there, and he wasn’t there.
It was his fault that the plan failed. Flash didn’t save Shining. He didn’t defeat Chrysalis. He wasn’t strong enough to save the day. So, why was Cocoa suffering for his mistakes? Flash was the screw up. He was the one who had been sleeping while his colt friend was being tortured. He had done everything wrong, Cocoa had done everything right, and he really wished that his stupid mark WOULD SHUT UP AND LET HIM THINK.
Flash banged his head on the stone wall near him. The pain faded away and focused at the point of impact. He, ironically, could finally think clearly.
He needed to stay focused and optimistic. Flash hadn’t been successful getting to see Cocoa before, but he definitely wouldn’t if he didn’t keep himself together now.
Focus in the present, cry later. Preferably while cuddling.
Flash took a deep, calming breath and continued trotting down the hall with a huge dopey grin on his face.
That was more like him.
As he got closer to where he knew the entrance to the dungeons were, he started to hear a heated conversation unfolding. He recognized Steel Bastion yelling in his Sergeant voice at another pony.
Flash felt bad from whomever was on the receiving end.
“I cannot let you take him, Sir,” A pony said stiffly, “Even letting you see the prisoner was too much. We cannot let him go as he is our only lead to finding the Changeling’s lair and locating the still missing Cocoa Print.”
“You bucking idiot,” Flash flinched from the sheer force of Steel Bastion’s voice, “He is Cocoa Print. I have a pictures of him right here as a Changeling back when he was still a colt!”
“You have no proof, Sir,” The other pony and presumably a guard said, “For all we know, that could be some other Changeling down there.”
“No proof? Other Changeling?” Steel roared, “Are you listening to yourself? I would recognize my own son!”
“You cannot allow your personal feelings towards your missing son cloud your judgement, Sir,” The guard stoically answered.
At that moment, Flash rounded the corner. Steel Bastion was breathing heavily and snorting at a stoic and impassive earth pony guard. Flash was impressed by the guard’s ability to stay so collected in the face of Steel. Not many ponies can manage that.
It was then that he noticed the third pony present. A tall bug-like pony with a large rack of antlers, and chocolate brown eyes. His head hung low and he was covered in bruises, but he was still the pony Flash cared most about in the entirety of Equestria.
It was Cocoa.
Flash galloped across the room, ignoring the surprised voices of Steel and the other guard, and kissed Cocoa on the mouth.
He tasted like chocolate and warmth and everything Flash had been longing for. Cocoa had been surprised, but reciprocated once he realized that it was Flash. They stayed like that, lips locked, until Cocoa reluctantly drew back.
“I missed you, Luv,” Cocoa said warmly.
“I missed you more,” Flash replied while fighting back the wave of emotion that he was feeling.
Cocoa furrowed his brow in worry, “Flash, what happened to your voice? And for that matter should you not be in the hospital?”
“Don’t worry about it, Bugaboo,” Flash nuzzled Cocoa under his muzzle, “That’s not important.”
“Well, it is to me,” Cocoa frowned, “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
“And I don’t like being separated from you,” Flash giggled, “I have terrible separation anxiety.”
Cocoa rolled his eyes, “You should work on that, Luv.”
“Nope, I don’t feel like it,” Flash grinned, “I have-”
“Sir, back away and stop kissing the prisoner,” the guard then added under his breath, “Never thought I would have to say that.”
Flash scowled and turned to look at the guard. He took note of his armour and saw the familiar red trim of a Private. New to the palace guard then or slow on the promotion. Though, Flash had no room to judge as he had taken a few years to be promoted to Corporal.
“Why?” Flash asked.
“Because you shouldn’t be fraternizing with a prisoner,” The guard stated, “What are you even doing here?”
“Talking with my colt friend,” Flash tilted his head in confusion as he thought that would have been obvious, “What do you think you’re doing here, Private?”
“Keeping watch on the prisoner while he visits with his ‘father’,” The guard scoffed, “I need to take him back to the dungeon.”
“Well, that won’t be necessary as I am taking him back home,” Flash replied cheerily.
“You can’t,” the guard glared at Flash, “Its still unclear whether the Changeling is who it says it is.”
“How?” Steel Bastion demanded, “You have his coltfriend saying its him, you have photos, and you have his father vouching for him,” Steel let out a frustrated growl, “His identity at this point cannot possibly still be in question.”
“I cannot let him go,” the guard resolutely responded, “It is against protocol. You would need the permission of a higher authority to release him.”
“Would my permission suffice?”
The guard was startled as Princess Celestia appeared nearby. Both Steel Bastion and the guard snapped into a salute while Flash trotted over and, scandalously, nuzzled the Princess. The guard and Steel Bastion both stared at Flash while Cocoa had a knowing smirk.
“I don’t suppose I could ask for a teeny tiny favour could I, Celestia?” Flash grinned widely.
“Depends, what would you like to ask?” Celestia replied with a teasing smile.
“Well, I was hoping you could let my colt friend come home with me,” Flash asked, “I promise we won’t run away and that he will be present for his trial.”
“Well, I’m not sure, Flashy,” Celestia as she tapped the side of her snout with a hoof, “It’s a pretty big favour to ask to release such an important prisoner.”
Instead of responding, Flash started sniffling and working himself up to the Pout. Celestia visibly flinched.
“Alright, alright, I’ll release him just don’t use the Pout,” Celestia sighed as Flash adopted his usual grin, “Really, Flash. That is such a dirty tactic to use.”
“But very effective,” Flash replied, “Now if you would pardon me, I have a colt friend to walk home.”
Before doing that, Flash remembered there was one more important thing for him to do. He lunged forward and hugged the Princess. She smiled lovingly down on him and hugged him back. After a moment they separated.
Flash quickly trotted to Cocoa and asked quietly, “Can you walk on your own?”
“Yes,” Cocoa replied, “But if it's not too much trouble could I use you as support?”
“Always,” Flash answered.
Flash trotted to Cocoa’s right side and let him lean heavily against him. He was heavy, but even in an injured state, Flash could manage.
“Hold on, I’m coming with you,“ Steel announced.
“I apologize, Sergeant Steel, but I need to have you answer some questions for the investigation into Cocoa Print,” Celestia said sadly.
Steel looked unsure as he was caught between loyalty to his family and loyalty to his Princess.
“Don’t worry, Steel, I’ll keep him safe,” Flash smiled.
“You better, or you will know the true meaning of pain,” Steel glared.
“I promise no harm will come to him, Sir,” Flash nodded his head with the most serious expression he could muster.
Steel nodded and came in close to Cocoa, “I love you.”
Cocoa smiled, “I love you too, father.”
Satisfied, Steel turned back to the Princess, “Let’s get this over with.”
“Right this way then Sergeant,” Princess Celestia turned to the guard, “Continue the good work, Private Book.”
“Yes, your highness,” The guard saluted.
As Celestia and Steel left for the room Flash had just left, he began the slow walk home with Cocoa leaning on him. They still weren’t finished as Cocoa was still under suspicion and had an upcoming trial, but for now Flash was with Cocoa and that was all that mattered. They could work things out later. Together.
Flash kissed Cocoa on the snout. Cocoa smiled in response and nuzzled Flash’s side.
Everything would be fine.