//------------------------------// // Part 4: Truth and Reconciliation // Story: Give Me Shelter // by TheWingman //------------------------------// Knock Knock Knock The morning calm was disrupted, startling Skychaser, Summer Rush, and her husband, Glidestream. The latter was the one to answer it. Opening the door, he was greeted by a pair of uniformed police ponies, all with stern expressions on their faces. He wondered what they wanted. "Excuse me, sir." One officer, a unicorn, started, "I am Officer Hilltop with the Equestrian State Police. Do you have a Mr. Skychaser in this residence?" There, Skychaser knew what they came for. He felt it was only a matter of time before they came for him. With much reluctance and a heavy sigh, he walked out of the kitchen with his head hung low. "Mr. Skychaser, we have a warrant out for your arrest on the charge of Assault. Now please, come quietly with us, and there will be no trouble." "Just get it over with." Skychaser sighed as hoofcuffs bound his forelegs. Summer Rush could not believe what was happening. It was only yesterday that she and her brother confronted their parents about her brother's abuse and now his heart would be further rattled with being arrested. Off the bat, she knew very well who made the call. "Hey, leave my brother alone!" Summer Rush blurted out as walked over to the officer, "Please let him go!" "Ma'am, if you continue with this behavior, I am going to have to book you for obstruction of justice. You can come to the downtown precinct once his bail is set." Just as she was about to pursue her anger further, Glidestream blocked her with one of his hooves. He hated the situation as much as she did, but the anger was not worth getting arrested over. "Honey," He muttered, "he'll be alright." "But-" "Listen, there is nothing we can do at the moment for him. We can figure this out later." The two police ponies escort Skychaser to the back of a wagon before heading off toward the police station. All Summer Rush could do was watch helplessly as her brother was taken away. Glidestream did her best to console his wife as she wept. Having only known him for a day, he held his brother-in-law in high regard. After being told of the events of the previous night and the accompanying revelations, his thoughts toward Lightning Dust soured immensely. Three Hours Later Another set of knocks were heard, slower in pace than earlier. Both were reluctant to answer it after the ordeal. However, with a sigh, Summer Rush got off the couch with a forlorn face on her. Opening it, she was shocked to see her father Dumbbell with a severe look on his face. Summer never expected his arrival, especially after yesterday. "Hey… sweet." Dumbbell deadpanned, emotionally drained. "Hey, father." Summer sighed. "What are you doing here for?" "I just wanted to talk about yesterday… moreover, pretty much everything." Though she held a bit of scorn toward her father for what happened, Summer Rush was not in a mood to dwell on that. With a head gesture, she invited him in, sitting back with her husband on the couch. Glidestream noticed his presence but was not angry with him, knowing what Summer told him. "I know that you probably did not want to see me after what happened yesterday." Dumbbell sighed as he sat across from his daughter. "If you still hate me, then I understand. You have every right to. I am mainly here to see Skychaser." "He is not here." Summer muttered. Her distress was known to Dumbbell. He did not want to see her that way. "What happened?" His question was answered by Glidestream clearing his throat, "What happened to him?" "Last night after him and Summer talked with you," Glidestream started, "they went to visit her mom at her place near the weather factory. From what I have heard, Summer got into an argument with Lightning after saying something particularly nasty to him, and Lightning hit her. From what Summer saw, Skychaser shoved her into a wall in her defense." "But what happened to him?" "Mom got… the police to arrest him." Dumbbell was as still as a vase upon hearing his daughter's words. Fear, anger, regret, sorrow, all those and many more invaded his brain. In his eyes, treating his son like dirt was not enough for Lightning. Now, she went far as to have him locked up for defending Summer. At that moment, he remembered the first time he held his son in his hooves. Remembering his innocent face from that day instilled a heart-wrenching feeling in him. He failed his son once before, never again. All he saw was red and a desire to right a wrong. "That damned- EERRRGGGHH!!!" Dumbbell growled, "I have just about enough of her. Come on you two!" "Where, father?" "Getting your brother out of jail; that's what!" "But-" "I have not done right by him my whole life. I will not allow him to rot in a jail cell. Come on. Let us go!" Despite her current feelings towards him, Summer Rush saw the determination in her father's eyes. However, she remembered what he said yesterday. Was it his way of setting things right with his son? In her mind, Summer did not see it being anything other than a father upholding his promise. He seemed different to her, the father that he was meant to be. Soon, they arrived at the police station, both hearts racing. Dumbbell did not even flinch, wink or bat an eye. He, along with his daughter and son-in-law was there to clear Skychaser's name and get Lightning dust to confess. Once they walked through the doors, the clerk at the front desk took notice. "Can I help you three?" The clerk asked. "Yeah," Dumbbell started, "I would like to negotiate the release of one of your recent arrestees named Skychaser." "Okay. What would be your relation to him?" "He is my son and the two others with me are his sister and brother-in-law." "Okay, let me go and talk with my supervisor, and we can set up a talk." After several minutes of waiting, Officer Hilltop, along with his partner, Thunderlane, entered the lobby, gesturing them to follow. They entered a small room with a table and six seats, more than enough to accompany all in attendance. Once they sat down, Hilltop could start. "Okay, Mr. Dumbbell." Hilltop said, "I am sure by now that you have heard the reason why we had to arrest your son." "Yes, he assaulted my ex-wife, his mother. My daughter here told me that Lightning Dust assaulted her and that Skychaser pushed her away from her." "Mrs. Summer Rush, is that true?" "Yes, Officer." Summer replied, showing the bruise on her cheek, "But, there is also more to this." "Please… explain." Nodding at her father, Dumbbell sighed and fidgeted around with obvious discomfort. He felt that if he told the police what happened, he would get thrown in jail. However, if it is to save his son, then so be it. He would accept his fate with dignity. "It all started when our son was old enough to fly. Lightning Dust wanted him to be the Wonderbolt she never got to be. She trained him day in and day out, but I saw that he showed his disinterest in it as time went on. Once that became known to her, she started to neglect him for Summer, even verbally abusing him. I... tried to stop her." "But why didn't you? You were a parent of the child. You had obligations to step in." "I wanted to! Damn it, I did! When I confronted her about this, she threatened to leave me and take the kids with her! If that happened, Skychaser would be even worse off than when she kicked him out! However, after the divorce, I have lived with the shame of doing nothing for him! Despite all that, I prayed every single day that he was safe and sound. However, that does not excuse me for my sins toward him. I am sorry I have failed him. Make whatever judgment of me, and I will accept it." "Well Mr. Dumbbell, we have reason enough to have you in jail for neglect in light of all this. Before w-" "THAT IS ENOUGH!" Summer Rush blurted out with frustration, eyes watery, grabbing everypony's attention, "My father did not abuse my brother, and the only real harm he did to him was being forced not to do anything! He still loved my brother very much. It was Lightning Dust that hit me and treated my brother, and I like puppets! Because of her and only her, I lost the best friend I have had for fifteen years! Never will I get those years back! I want my brother and my father!" For a moment, the two officers were left without words. They could sense the certainty and truth in her words. Being upholders of the law, they could not just act on emotion. They still needed a valid proof of Summer's claims. "Well, Mrs. Summer Rush," Hilltop said, straightening his tie, "we just cannot go on words alone." "Well, what can be done?" "If we can bring Ms. Lightning Dust down here and get a confession out of her, it will prove Skychaser's innocence." "But what of my father?" "When Skychaser is set free, your father's fate will be determined on whether or not he forgives him." "Then bring her down here. My brother was there when she hit me." Though she knew her mother was stubborn and prideful, Summer Rush had a feeling that Lightning Dust would slip. It all depended on a mixture of careful talking and luck. For her brother's sake, there was little room for error. Nearly thirty minutes had passed as the three anxiously waited for the officers. Both of them wondered if Lightning Dust would even be available. The one thing that was on Summer Rush's mind is whether her brother would be cleared of all charges. If there was one thing she did not want, it was for him to spend a lengthy amount of time in jail. Then, the sounds of curses and shouts grew closer and closer until the door burst open and through it came Lightning Dust. To say she was not happy would be a vast understatement. Once her eyes locked onto her ex-husband, wrath flooded her mind. His face was the very last thing she ever wanted to see. "You!" Lightning Dust bitterly growled, "I thought I did not have to see your ugly mug again! Also, why have you brought our daughter here?!" "Oh, you know very well why, dear." Dumbbell replied. "Yes, mother." Summer sighed, "You have gone too far this time. You attacked me while all Skychaser did was push you away." "You did not even see the whole thing, dear. That trouble child wanted t-" "Ma'am!" Hilltop said, "Please, take a seat." She did as the officer ordered, sitting with her forehooves crossed, "Now, these three here have accused you of, among other things, abuse and Assault. Is this true?" "Absolutely not! I have never abused my children in my life!" "Okay. However, prior to you coming here, they said that not only did you hit your daughter last night, but you have also verbally abused your son and kicked him out at the age of seventeen." "Lies! All of that is lies!" "And that is another lie." Dumbbell said with what little sadness he had left, "You kept me from stepping and stopping you. If I did, you would have taken him, and he would be worse off with you!" "Okay, very well." Hilltop flipped through his notebook," "Mr. Glidestream, how did your wife get that bruise?" "It was about nine in the evening when she and her brother came back. When I saw them come in, I noticed she had that bruise on her eye. It was there that Skychaser told me what happened and my wife confirmed it all. I swear to you it is the truth, sir." "Oh come on, dear! Why did you marry this stallion?" "Because I love him! It is something you never knew in your life!" "How dare you talk that way to me, young lady! You would do well to know that I am your mother, your supreme authority!" "But a mother does not toss her son out like garbage! You thought of me as nothing but a proxy for your failed dreams!" "You watch that dam-" A silence fell upon the room as the door opened and Thunderlane stepped in. He walked up to Hilltop and started to whisper in his ear while glancing at Lightning Dust. None of them knew what he said, but it made Lightning nervous. Could it be something she was afraid of? After a collective nod with Thunderlane, Hilltop returned to the task at hand. "So, Ms. Lightning Dust, Officer Thunderlane had just gotten done talking with Skychaser and he some said things that matched up with their stories." "Wh-What?!" Lightning stammered with apparent fear, "Why would you believe him?!" "It is not that, ma'am. We talk to all parties involved in this case, and it just turns out that what your son said matched up with what the others said." At this point, Lightning felt herself being backed into a corner. She did not prepare for any of it, and she did not have a lawyer. "As it stands, the pony in the wrong here is you. It would be best if you would confess and the charges stacked against you will not be as severe." Lightning Dust was a mare that was too proud of herself. Even if she was in the wrong or was at fault for something, her pride always ruled her decisions. Failure could not hold her back and neither would the three ponies before her. However, as with most prideful people, things tend to slip. "I do not care; I do not! I do not care what some miserably weak waste of space sa-" Once she saw the looks on the faces of the others, the reality of what she said had set in. It was in that moment that Lightning Dust knew… she messed up. The only option left was to double down. "Fine! I did it. I slapped my bitch of a daughter, abused that rotten mistake of a son of mine and kicked his flank to the curb, and used them as proxies for my failed dreams! Happy now? I bet you all are because I am finally glad to say… You are all fucking worthless to me!" All in attendance were left without even a single breath. The only jaws that were not slack were those of the officers. Their eyes were opened wide as if they saw something that shocked them. As quickly as their surprise came, they were able to recompose themselves and get their professionalism in gear. "Okay, we will take that as a confession," Hilltop said as Thunderlane put a pair of hoofcuffs on Lightning. She offered no resistance, "Lightning Dust, you are now under arrest on the charges of Assault and battery, abuse and neglect of a minor, domestic abuse, and blackmail." With a nod from Hilltop, Thunderlane escorted a defeated Lightning out of the room. Once she left, both Summer, Glidestream, and Dumbbell breathed sighs of relief that they cleared Skychaser's names. Except for Dumbbell, the worst was behind them. "Thank you so much, officer." Summer thanked Hilltop as she shook his hoof. "It is nothing, ma'am." Hilltop replied as he got up from his seat, "We must serve justice. So now that your brother's name has been cleared, he is now free to go." "I will go." Dumbbell muttered as he got up, "I should be the one whom he sees." "Father, why?" Summer asked with worry. "As I have said, I will do anything to make it things right. If I must take his place, then so be it." "But father?" "If he does not forgive me, then I will understand. I have already made my peace with that." Embracing his daughter for possibly one last time, he gave her a light peck on the forehead. "Whatever happens, please watch after him." Nodding, he followed Hilltop out of the room, leaving an emotionally wracked Summer Rush behind with her husband. He did not know whether or not his son would forgive him. All he cared about was his freedom. Skychaser sat alone in his cell, forlorn and drained. He knew from the start that it was his mother that called the cops on him. Bit by bit, his hope withered away as he feared to spend more years away from his loved ones. It was only yesterday that he reunited with his sister, but all of that would soon be in jeopardy. No hope… No hope… No- He heard his cell door open and Officer Hilltop entering his cell. What was he up to? "Mr. Skychaser, good news. You are free to go." "What?" Skychaser muttered with confusion, "Who? Why?" Looking to his right, Hilltop nodded before he walked out of the way. What Skychaser saw next dumbfounded him. There, his father Dumbbell walked into his cell with a serious look on his face. "Father? What are you doing here?" "Remember what I said yesterday?" He sighed as he hung his head, "I promised I would make it up to you; however I can. When your sister told me what happened, I-I just could not let it stand." "But why do you care?" "I do care because… you are my son." Dumbbell's eyes started to water up with tears. This was it, his final attempt at forgiveness, "I could not just let you rot in here. After you defended your sister from your mother, I knew what you did was right. Lightning never cared for any of us, and I was the coward that did not help you. I understand if you are still angry with me and you have every right to. If you do not forgive me, then I will gladly take your place here. But know this… I love you, my son." Skychaser could not believe what he heard, even from his father. Though he was not on good terms with him, Dumbbell upheld his promise with sincerity. Sky did not know any other way to put it other than that his father did indeed care about him. As much as he wanted to, he could not bear to hold such hatred anymore. He wanted his father. He loved his father. Walking up to a cowering Dumbbell, Skychaser surprised him by wrapping him in an embrace. Emotions flared and sparked between father and son as Dumbbell tried to gather his mind. He thought his son was going to reject him yet he was hugging him. "Son?" Dumbbell shuddered. "Shhhh, it is alright, father." Skychaser whispered, "I forgive you." "But why? I left you to be abused." "As much as I want you to suffer, I have learned that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. You came to me. You have kept your promise. That is all that matters. I want to start over with my father. I love you too, dad." At that moment, Dumbbell accepted that his son forgave him for his sins. He felt an incredible burden lift from his shoulder as he returned the hug. It was the first time in years he got to, and he relished every moment of it. He got his son back, and he could not be any happier. "Son… thank you." Dumbbell muttered as he broke the hug with a warm smile, "Let us get out of here." Dumbbell and Sky walked out of the cell and into the lobby where Summer Rush and her husband were waiting. Once she saw them walking side by side, she could not help but lunge at them for a group hug. Her happiness knew no bounds and was happy. Her family was back together in one way or another. "I am so proud of you, brother." Summer Rush whispered. "It was better than keeping in hatred." Sky replied, "I am just glad my father is back." "Now my nightmares haunt me no longer." Dumbbell smiled, relieved his memories would not hurt him again. Now, he looked forward to making new ones. Through the fifteen years he missed him, one thought had him curious. "Hey, son, mind if I ask you something?" "Ask away." "Well, your sister got married and had a foal. Is there a mare in your life?" Skychaser paused for a moment at his father's question. He wondered if he would still accept him if he told the truth. However, after what happened, he had a feeling Dumbbell would understand. "No, no marefriend." Skychaser answered, "I do have a special somepony, and I love him very much." Dumbbell was surprised to learn about his son's relationship. He never saw it coming yet he understood it completely. If his son was happy, who was he to judge? "Well, I am happy that you found your special somepony." He replied, "Does not matter who or what they are; I am happy that you are happy." With his acceptance of him, Skychaser hugged his father once more. Not only did his father free him from jail, but he also accepted him for who he is. For him, it was the happiest day of his life. "Thank you, father." Skychaser nodded as the group left the police station with their spirits and heads held high. Their familial bonds had been reforged, and nothing was going to break them. One and a half decades of strife had now been put to rest, "Father, I thought we'd all go out for dinner tonight. Want me to invite him to join us?" "Yes, my son. I cannot wait to meet him."