//------------------------------// // Chapter Twelve. // Story: Astral's Thunder // by Bolted Sky //------------------------------// I awoke the next morning in a bit of a daze. I was unsure of whether to feel dread or relief. When all of the previous day's memories came flooding back, I suppose I settled on a little of both. I was more relieved than anything else, though, since I was sure Field was no longer a part of my life, whatever else may happen from this point. I looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning. I knew that Starlight and Sunburst were supposed to be in at nine, so they should already be here. I got out of bed and walked down the spiral staircase in anticipation. After a few minutes I finally made my way to the main dining hall. At the other end of the long table, I saw Cadence and Shining Armor. I also saw two other ponies, and they were just the two I needed to see. "Astral!" Starlight called out. She and Sunburst waved at me. I trotted over to great them. But as I got closer, I noticed the two of them had a concerned look on their faces. I looked over at Cadence and Shining Armor. They wore the same expressions. "... Everything okay, guys?" I asked. They were silent and continued to stare at me. "Guys?.. What's wrong?" I was wondering if they found out. Turns out I was right. "Astral... We got a telegraph from Ponyville. Twilight says you ran away. And she wants us to find you." Cadence explained. "Did it say anything else?" I asked. "No, it doesn't. And that's the part bothering us." Shining Armor responded. "Astral, we're going to need you to tell us the truth, okay?" Cadence said softly. "Yeah? Would you even believe me if I told you?" I asked bitterly. The others were taken aback. I immediately realized what I said. "I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I just..." I stammered. "Hey, hey. It's all right kid. We're just concerned." Said Shining Armor. "Yeah, that's right. Besides, why would you ask a question like that?" Asked Cadence. "Because hardly anyone ever does. I've tried reaching out before only to get my hoof smacked away." I felt the hoof touch the back of my neck. I didn't know who it was the first, but my immediate reaction was to flinch hard and pull away. I was hunkered down to the floor when I looked up and saw Cadence, looking surprised with her hoof still hovering in midair. "Astral..." Cadence look shocked. She had probably never seen some pony act this way before. "Astral, what's wrong? You can tell us." Starlight said. "Promise you won't send me back." I whimpered. "Huh?" "Promise you won't send me back! Please don't send me back! Please!" I begged. I felt tears coming to my eyes. Cadence puts her hooves out in front of me "It's okay! It's okay. We won't send you back... We won't send you back. Just please... Tell us what's going on. We'll listen." Cadence said, trying to calm me down. I looked at her, then everypony else in the room. I was hesitant at first, but eventually, I told them. I laid it all bear and told them everything. By the time I was done, I was trying to catch my breath. I looked around the room to see a mixture of shock and disgust in the faces of the ponies I was surrounded by. "Sweet Celestia! Have they lost their minds!" Sunburst shouted. "I don't believe this." Starlight said, shaking her head. Shining Armor just looked angry. He seemed to be glaring at nothing in particular. Cadence looked like she was on the verge of tears. "No wonder you pulled away when I tried touch you." Said Cadence. "You're not going to send me back, are you?" I asked. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Starlight shouted. Cadence came up from behind. I turned to look at her. "Astral, I'm so so sorry. And I believe you, I really do. But before we can do anything, I'm going to have to get your mom's side of the story, okay?" As Cadence said this, I felt myself being enveloped by Magic. It was different though, not telekinesis. I turned around and saw Starlight scanning me. "Well, her side of the story better be the same as his, because he's recently sustained injuries consistent with what he told us just happened." She said. There was a silence before Shining Armor spoke. "Well, the telegram says they're going to make a trip up here to find him. I didn't send one back just yet because I didn't know what to do. But with luck, They'll be here by tomorrow morning. We can get to the bottom of this when they do." Said Shining Armor. "To... Tomorrow?" I asked. Every pony looked at me as my ears flattened. "I... I don't want to see them." I said. "You want to come with us?" Asked Starlight. I looked over to see Starlight and Sunburst looking at me with wide smiles. "You want me to come with you?" I asked. "Well yeah. Isn't that why you came in the first place?" Sunburst asked. "Yeah, I think I do." "Well, Starlight and I get off at six. In the meantime, you can come with me to the library, I don't have much to do today so I can show you around." I followed sunburst to the library, leaving the other three to whatever their business was. As Sunburst and Astral left the room, the remaining three ponies looked at one another. "Starlight, what exactly did you see with that spell of yours?" Shining Armor asked. "Well, I'm no doctor. But I know enough to know those bruises weren't accidental." "How so?" Asked Cadence "The only other times I've seen injuries like that was when I was back whem I was scanning foals during hoofball season. And Astral isn't exactly the 'athletic' type, so he wouldn't be playing if given a choice." Starlight explained. "This 'Field' guy sounds like a real piece of garbage." Said Shining Armor. "I can't believe she'd let some pony like that beat her son! After everything he's done, he needs to be in jail!" Cadence yelled. "Rainbow Dash has a lot of explaining to do... And so does Twily for that matter." Said Shining Armor. "Didn't Flurry Heart know about the abuse, though? Why wouldn't she have told us?" Cadence asked. "She would have... In a heartbeat. You know her, she's quick to defend her friends." Explained Shining Armor. "Then how come we didn't get a letter from her?" Asked Cadence. Shining Armor looked at her. "That's the part I want Twilight to explain."