//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten: Rainbow Arc one // Story: SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron: Equestrian Squad // by Megaskullmon //------------------------------// It’s been at least a couple of days since the battle to save Equestria from the Storm King and his minions. The swat kats and Molly and Mac have been asked to come to the celebration in Canterlot. Starlight and Trixie do their best to help the four cats get ready to meet royal blood. Thankfully there were no pony deaths. Starlight takes Molly and Mac to Rarity's store. She looks tired from her journey but her eyes open wide when she sees the two robotic cats. She stares at them and how shiny they are. A smile forms across her face. She does focus on a little filly that Molly is holding tightly to her metal body. The little one is fast asleep and she doesn’t seem to care that the one taking care of her is made of metal.  “Darlings, I could make you some amazing clothing for you two. What would you two like?” Molly stares at Mac. “Before we do anything. We would like little Muse here to get something first. Starlight told us we need to look our best, meaning her as well, to prove to the princess we can take care of this little one. Since her mother was killed during everything that happened here in ponyville.” Rarity sighs, shaking her head. A frown formed on her face. The white mare seems to know the feeling of all of this. “It seems my family and many others are the lucky ones. I don’t want to think what would have happened if Twilight and the others didn’t do what we did even though we almost failed. Can you wake her please?” Molly shakes the little filly awake and she opens her eyes staring at Molly. “Little Muse this is Rarity I am sure you met her before or saw your mother talking to. Do you mind letting her measure you for a dress for the celebration and to talk to the princess? Don’t worry Mac and I will be here.” Muse clings tightly to Molly and Rarity and she carries the little one while Molly stays close to her. She sticks close to her while the scared filly gets measured. _____________ The eyes of Mac. I kept an eye on Molly and Rarity and how they handled Muse. She cried a few times and Molly had to hug her. The poor thing is so scared it’s going to take months or even many years for her to get better. “Mac?” I turn to look at Starlight. “Are you sure you and Molly will be able to take care of her on your own?” I shrug my shoulders. “It would be the first time she and I ever took care of anyone. We have killed and murdered so many Kats we have done so much to harm others. It’s the first time in my life I have been so unsure about anything.” Starlight smiles. “I know that feeling, Mac. I would be happy to help you take care of her. If you let me of course.” A smile forms on my robotic face. “I would be honored if you did. Just from what Trixie told me these celebrations are almost a normal thing. Just I need to make sure Muse is given a wonderful home and a wonderful family. I just hope I can do this.” Starlight puts her hoof on my leg. “Everything will be fine, you will be alright.” __________ Many hours later Mac and Molly are wearing suits and Muse is in a cute little dress. Chance and Jake are wearing what they could. It was hard for Jake to do much since he is still in the wheelChair and he was told he might be in there for almost a year. Chance has a broken left arm and it’s in a sling. Chance looks around at all the group of ponies waiting for whoever this pony is to sing. Spike comes up on the stage holding a Mic to his mouth. “Fillies and Gentlecolts, Get ready for a little SongBird Serenade.” The yellow mare with her large hairdo spreads her wings and bows after the light shines on her. All the ponies cheer even the creatures like the Kats cheer Chance looks at the strange birds who called themselves Upholie. Songbird speaks loud enough for all to hear. “And now to celebrate that we are all still here in one piece. Give it up for Princess Twilight and her friends.” The light shined on the ponies and the friends that helped. Jake and Chance are happy they’re not getting praised; they feel they don’t deserve it. They do what they always did, fight for what is right at least in their minds. Molly and Mac never got any praise but Molly is more keeping an eye on the cheering little filly Muse. The song slowly starts. “I know you, you're a special one Some see crazy where I see love You fall so low but shoot so high” __________________ The eyes of Jake. A doctor told me I will be trapped in this chair for a year, I am told but for now, all I can think of is to be happy for these ponies. I do what a normal hero does and turn to leave using my wheelchair while I leave Chance to listen.  I found a vendor and it’s one of the ponies I met at ponyville. They didn't even force me to pay since I had none of the money. I took a deep breath unsure what to think of all this. I just sat in the chair to relax and the stallion came out from behind the stand. “I know you and Chance asked for no praise. All I can think of though is to at least give you someone to talk to.” A smile creeps across my face. “That is kind of you. I never got your name.” The stallion chuckles. “It’s Stock I know it’s on the nose. But eh what you’re going to do. I am sorry you got so badly hurt for our sakes, Jake. I do hope you don’t regret doing what you did for us.” I just chuckle. “No don’t worry Stock. I did what I had to even though I may not be able to walk for a year. I will have to get used to that and get the muscles in my body working again. It will take time but I thank you for not making me stay to watch the celebration.” The stallion laughs. “Oh don’t worry we have so many of these celebrations I doubt any pony would care. So how is your friend Chance doing?” I just shrug my shoulders. “He keeps to himself he has too much pride to ask for help.” _____________ The eyes of Chance.  I stood in the crowd watching the pony sing and dance. I didn’t notice Jake leave. I looked over to see him gone. But I knew he wasn’t much for celebrations. I am normally not either. I walk out of the crowds to sit on a bench and I hear someone sitting beside me. “Do you mind if I join you?” I look over to see Princess Luna. “Oh, Princess I am sorry If I don’t feel like bowing.” Luna just smiles. “Oh, I don’t expect it. I just heard what you and Jake did for ponyville and those strange robots. I know you four asked to be left out of the celebration and just let real heroes get their due.” I nodded. “Yes, Molly and Mac felt it would be a good idea not to push so much on the filly they want to adopt.” Luna turns to look at the dance filly who Molly is staying close to and Mac is clapping his hands to the music. “Yes about that. You have known them for years, Chance. I would like you to be truthful with me. Do you think they can be trusted to raise that little one?” That question hit me hard like a baseball bat. I wanted to be truthful to her and I didn’t want to ruin their chances to fix their lives. But I felt I had to be truthful about everything. “They used to be villains in my world. I know from what I may say to you the truth about them. I am unsure. I think no one can ever move on from being evil. I learned that the hard way from Starlight. I also learned that the hard way from Trixie. I fought them so many times. But they seem serious this time. Muse seems to be a big part of that as well.” Luna nods. “I can understand I was evil once as well. I became jealous of my sister. I felt she was treated better than me. It led me to start a rebellion against my dear sister. I fought her and I got banished to the moon for a thousand years.” I glance at Luna. “So many of your world has had an evil side and worked to fix their past.” Luna nods. “It’s not easy, mind you. But it happens. Also, I was told you and Jake are thinking of becoming full citizens of Equestria. Are you willing to have the junkyard be your home then? Celestia and I are willing to pay all the taxes on it till you get a good amount of bits from it.” I was amazed she even offered that. “I am confused with this Luna but I wouldn’t pass it up.” Luna nods. “We will be doing the same for Molly and Mac. We will find them a good place to live in ponyville and Molly already said she has something she wants to do lined up. She said she always wanted to take up painting and Mac from what he told me wanted to take up playing the saxophone.” I just chuckle. “Good on them.” Luna nods. “Now I need to get back to celebrating princely things and all that. Celestia has made sure that you five have rooms in the castle. You and Jake will have a room with two beds and Molly and Mac will have one too. Is that okay?” I nodded. “Yes, that is fine. I will let them know when this is all over.” Luna nods and leaves. I lean back, closing my eyes to let the sound of Fireworks and the celebration at least relax my mind. ___________ The eyes of Molly The celebration has been wonderful. Even though I have been focusing more on Muse. I look away just once and she is gone. I quickly changed my vision to look for her and let Mac enjoy himself. I follow her hoof steps and she is sitting with a pink mare with a horn and wings. “Oh Hello, there I am Princess Cadence you must be this little one’s guardian.” I turn my eyes back to normal and a weak smile forms on my metal face. The joints make a wiring sound.  “Yes, I was worried that she got lost.” Cadence laughs.  “No, I just wanted to talk to her.” Molly looked confused. “But she is mute at least what her mother told us.” Cadence nodded. “Yes but I still have magic so for a time I can get her to speak her mind telepathically at least it works for a time. It’s not an easy spell, it takes a lot of magic to use. But you have done amazing with her. I know you have evil in your past and crime. I have been told this but I am not going to hold that on you since you have proven to do what you can.” I sigh, nodding, opening my arms to allow Muse to jump into my arms and I lift her. “I will do what I can for her. We all will.” Mac comes over to me and pats my shoulder. “Hey, Molly let’s go get this little one to bed and then get ready for our meeting with the princess tomorrow.” Mac turns to look at Cadence. It didn't hit him at first but he quickly bows. “No need to bow to me Mac You three stay safe and Celestia got you three as well as Jake and Chance a room for the night in the castle. I hope you enjoy your stay.” Mac and I nod while we carry Muse up to the room the guard leads us to and we notice that Jake and Chance are already in a room that is across from us. “Hey, Mac Molly?” I turn to Chance and he smiles. “I believe in you two.” Jake looks up at Chance surprised. I was surprised as well. Mac didn’t say a word but smiled. “Thank you.” We all get ready for bed. I know we don’t sleep anymore but we had to do something to get used to it. We had to recharge somehow and this is a way we recharge now from the sounds of it. I hold Muse tightly to my cold chest again and she just falls asleep Mac falls right to sleep. I drift to sleep wondering what our life will be when we become full citizens of this world and prove we can be redeemed. The battle with the Storm King is over. It's now a time to celebrate. For the next chapter Molly, Mac, Jake, and Chance will be made full citizens of Equestria and ponyville. All four of them will have to work together even if they may not always be heroes of this land but they can be heroes another way. But something dark and evil is coming and it’s something they may only be able to face. But for the next chapter, it’s the meeting of Adoption and citizenship. The final chapter of arc one.