Soarin's mind was racing a million miles an hour as he quickly flew over Ponyville towards the quaint cottage on the edge of town where Dash said she'd be waiting for him. Had he really just done that? Had he really just murdered somepony?
Soarin kept trying to balance all the thoughts and anxieties in his head. In the back of his mind he knew that this fight between himself and Lightning Streak would probably spark a conflict between the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolts. He knew that Night Stalker was waiting for a reason to attack the Wonderbolts, and the death of his son would probably push him over the edge.
But, none of that mattered now, he just needed to see Dash. They would deal with all that when the time came. Soarin finally saw the cottage poking out of the trees ahead of him and he sped up.
He landed roughly by the front door, his leg still bleeding from the fight. He quickly knocked on the door. After a short commotion from inside the door flung open, and Soarin found himself being embraced by Rainbow Dash.
"Thank Celestia you're okay." Dash said as she hugged him. Soarin chuckled as he hugged her back. He looked up to see Fluttershy standing in the doorway.
"Oh my, you look like you hurt yourself pretty bad. Why don't you come in and I'll bandage you up." Fluttershy said, inviting them back in. Rainbow quickly pulled away from the hug and went to support Soarin to help him inside.
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll be fine." Soarin said dismissively. Rainbow ignored him and guided him inside to the living room and onto the couch. Fluttershy entered with a damp rag that she gave to Rainbow, who immediately started to apply pressure to Soarin's leg wound.
"What happened to Lightning?" Rainbow asked as she cleaned the wound. Soarin let out a sigh.
"I killed him. I stabbed him to death, in the fountain at the park." Soarin said with a tinge of guilt. Rainbow brushed a hoof across his cheek.
"Don't worry, you did the right thing." Rainbow said reassuringly. Soarin turned away.
"You...you aren't scared of me for doing something like that?" Soarin asked. Before Dash could answer, another voice spoke up from the doorway to the dining room.
"You kidding? Lightning got what was coming to him, that jerk deserved it." Blaze said as she entered the living room and sat down on the chair opposite the couch, clutching an ice pack to her black eye. Soarin looked a little confused.
"And...you are?" Soarin asked.
"Soarin, this is Blaze, she's the friend I told you about, she's cool." Rainbow said as she began to tend to Soarin's wings and back.
"So Dash, this is the hunk you told be about?" Blaze asked with a hint of sarcasm. Rainbow groaned.
"Yes Blaze, this is Soarin." Rainbow said. Blaze took a moment to eye up Soarin, something that Soarin found a little uncomfortable.
"Wow Dash, you scored!" Blaze shouted just as Fluttershy came back into the room with a first aid kit. Rainbow and Soarin's faces began to turn a slight shade of pink from blushing.
"Blaze, not right now. I'm trying to clean up my injured coltfriend, okay?" Rainbow said, shooting Blaze a glare. Blaze sunk back into her chair in response, still holding the ice pack to her eye.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash went on with helping Soarin, cleaning up his wound and bandaging it up, cleaning the blood from his coat, and washing his face. Afterwards, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, and Blaze all left the cottage.
"I'll see to you tomorrow Fluttershy." Rainbow waved as they walked away from the cottage. After reaching the end of the path, Blaze stopped them.
"Well, what's the plan now? You both know that tonight isn't gonna be the end of the fighting. The violence between the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolts is probably going increase to a full out war soon." Blaze said.
"I'm not sure. Soarin?" Rainbow asked, looking up to Soarin, who's head was low, deep in thought.
"I don't know, but I need to go back home, I need to see Thunderlane." Soarin said. Rainbow shook her head slightly.
"After what happened tonight, do you really think it's best to go back there?" Rainbow asked.
"I'm sorry, I just need to see my best friend be properly laid to rest, and I promised him I'd take care of Rumble, it was his dying wish." Soarin said, tears forming in his eyes again. Rainbow embraced him again.
"You do what you have to, but what about after that?" Rainbow asked. Blaze cleared her throat, getting the attention of the two of them.
"I think, if things get too ugly, we should leave." Blaze said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow, not really understanding Blaze's suggestion.
"What do you mean "we"?" Rainbow asked.
"I mean you, Soarin, myself, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo should all leave Ponyville unless we can somehow talk the Wonders and the Shadows out of war." Blaze explained.
"Hopefully it won't come to that, but if it does, then yeah, that's a good idea." Soarin said, nodding in agreement.
"For now, let's just go back to our compounds. It's been a long day." Rainbow said, nuzzling into Soarin's side.
Soarin and Rainbow Dash shared in one last goodnight kiss before parting their separate ways. Hopefully for not to long.
As Soarin flew back to the mansion, he felt the nagging worry in the back of his mind that things were about to get worse. He knew Night Stalker would want vengeance, which Soarin had already exacted earlier that night, but Soarin knew that it wouldn't be enough for Night Stalker.
Soarin landed in the courtyard of the Shadowbolts mansion, where most of the Shadowbolts were gathered. The crowd was all gathered around the front porch where Night Stalker, Rumble, Blossomforth and Fleetfoot stood. Soarin carefully made his way through the crowd eventually emerging up front. He finally saw Thunderlane's body, laying on the porch in front of Night Stalker, who's eyes went wide when he saw Soarin.
"My boy, there you are." Night Stalker said with a shaky voice as he flew over to Soarin. He noticed tears in Night Stalker's slightly bloodshot eyes, something Soarin never though he'd ever see. "Where have you been? Did you see what happened?" Night Stalker asked, pointing to Thunderlane's body. Soarin nodded.
"I killed the Wonderbolt responsible. I killed him with Thunderlane's blade." Soarin said, a little loud to make sure the rest of the Shadowbolts heard. A small smile formed on Night Stalker's face before he embraced Soarin, something Soarin never imagined Night Stalker would ever do.
"Thank you Soarin, thank you." Night Stalker said after the embrace. Night Stalker then flew back over to Thunderlane, Soarin followed close behind. Soarin looked down at Thunderlane's body, the stab wounds clear as day and the copper stench of fresh blood still lingering. Night Stalker knelt down and kissed his son's foreheard before turning to the rest of the gathered Shadowbolts.
"Shadowbolts! The time has come! The Wonderbolts have now attacked us, murdering my son in cold blood! Luckily, Soarin managed to step up and avenge his death!" Night Stalker bellowed over the crowd, earning cheers and whoops from the Shadowbolts. "But, this isn't the end, we must act before they come for any more of us, and we must fight until every one of those Wonderbolts perishes!" Night Stalker shouted. The crowd erupted into cheers. Soarin wanted to object, but he knew that he would just make things worse, so he kept quiet.
Before Night Stalker could continue his speech to the Shadowbolts, some gasps were heard and the crowd moved as out from the trees marched a large group of Wonderbolts, led by Solar Storm, with Fire Streak, who carried the still damp and bloody corpse of his older brother. Night Stalker stepped forward towards the Wonderbolts, glaring at Solar Storm.
"I'm sorry, but this is private property, explain your reason for trespassing?" Night Stalker said angrily. Fire Streak carefully dropped his brother's body next to him. A few of the Shadowbolts began to chuckle at the sight, which made Fire Streak furious.
"Which one of you degenerates did this?" Fire Streak shouted angrily at the crowd of Shadowbolts. The crowd remained silent, all looking like they're ready for a fight. Fire Streak scanned the crowd before locking eyes with Soarin, who stepped passed the rest of the Shadowbolts up next to Night Stalker.
"I did." Soarin responded. Both sides kept staring eachother down, until Solar Storm stepped in front of Fire Streak as he was about to pull out his own blade.
"I'll make this quick and simple for you neanderthals. Give us the one who killed Lightning so that he may be punished for his crimes, or we will return with the rest of the Wonderbolts and burn down this sorry excuse for a mansion." Solar Storm explained rather casually.
"Crimes? That dead Wonderbolt there killed one of us! Ever heard of eye for an eye?" Night Stalker shouted angrily, the rest of the crowd cheering in agreement. Solar Storm chuckled in response.
"I see it less as eye for an eye as a Heart for a Finger." Solar Storm said dismissively.
"We won't give him to you, you bitch!" Night Stalker growled. The rest of the Shadowbolts began to approach the Wonderbolts to fight, Until Solar Storm stepped back.
"Fine, I'll give you time to reconsider, but if he isn't in my compound by 6pm tomorrow, this place is going up in flames." Solar Storm said threateningly before turning and leading the rest of the Wonderbolts out. Fire Streak turned and gave Soarin a death glare before flying off. Soarin felt a little worried after that threat. Night Stalker then rested a hoof on Soarin's shoulder.
"Don't worry, we won't give in to her demands, we just need to prepare." Night Stalker said to Soarin before turning to address the rest of the crowd. "We must prepare to fight back!" Night Stalker said, rallying the crowd to start cheering. Soarin quietly slipped away from the crowd and made his way to the window to get into his room.
He climbed in and was met with the painting he had made for Rainbow Dash. His most treasured work, probably forever. He quickly took a spare bed sheet and covered it before moving it to the corner of his bedroom. He then laid down on his bed. After a long night like tonight, he needed a rest, especially for what was going to come next.