Lightning Twister was still asleep in bed with Smolder laying beside him gently holding his hoof and Silverstream gently stroking his mane to help him sleep okay while Sandbar, Gallus, Yona and Ocellus watched.
Celestia entered the guest room and saw the six friends were taking care of the young colt like they were told to.
“How is he doing?” She asked softly.
“He’s sleeping okay we believe,” answered Gallus.
“He did started whimpering a bit, but we managed to calm him down and help him sleep better,” added Silverstream.
Celestia sadly looked at Lightning sleeping in bed before walking up to him. She gently stroked his mane to give him comfort of her own. The princess turned to the young six.
She let out a soft and calm sigh before saying, “Little ones, I have something that I need to tell you all. And it’s important you must hear and understand about this.”
“Teachers and Princesses found a way to save poor pony?” Yona asked in hope.
Celestia shook her head before saying, “I’m afraid we haven’t yet, my little yak.”
The young six looked down in sadness since they now know that it could take awhile before they actually found a way to help their little friend.
“You see,” Celestia began, “The thing I needed to tell you is that… Discord is back.”
“WHAT?!” The young six shouted but not too loud so they don’t wake Lightning up.
“That jerk of chaos is here again?!” Gallus asked in shock and anger.
Smolder quietly growled in anger while not waking up the poor sleeping colt.
“Now I know that all of you are not happy that he is back,” said Celestia, “And believe me, we’re not either after his actions. But he would probably keep bothering and annoying us if we don’t let him return, so I did say he can visit just so me, Twilight and the others don’t get annoyed by him.”
“And why should we trust him to be good this time?” Silverstream asked angrily.
“Yeah, that goat face putted us all in danger and treated Lightning like he doesn’t deserve a better life!” Agreed Gallus.
“I understand that you’re still upset for what Discord did to us moons ago,” said Celestia, “We’re still upset too. But I promise, we will keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble, hurt Lightning and make him suffer even more. So as long you lot continue your part on helping the poor dear, we will continue with our part as well as keeping an eye on Discord.”
The young six looked at each other before looking at Lightning Twister who was still sleeping. They knew Discord might try and upset the colt again, but he would definitely be bothering the grown ups and Spike if they didn’t let him return. But they decided to let them handle the Lord of Chaos and finding a way to help Lightning while they look after their poor friend.
Smolder let out a calm sigh before saying, “Okay, we’ll try to stay calm and let you and the grown ups handle Discord while also helping Braveheart.”
“Good,” replied Celestia.
“But if he DARES try to break Lightning’s heart again like last time, he will not like what I’ll be doing to him if he hurts him,” warned Smolder seriously.
“Same here,” added Ocellus in a serious tone.
“What she said,” said Gallus in a serious tone with Sandbar, Yona and Silverstream doing a serious nod in agreement.
Celestia nodded her head at the students in understood.
“That I can allow since he did say some things about Lightning that weren’t true before we banished him and you all still remembered what he did,” she said, “But please try to remain calm and let us handle him if he does hurt him again.”
“We will, Princess,” replied Sandbar.
“Good. I shall leave you to continue taking care of Lightning.”
Celestia started to make her way out of the guest room and back to the wielders of Harmony and her sister.
The young six turned back to Lightning, who was still sleeping peacefully, as Smolder continued to hold his hoof while Silverstream continued to gently stroke his mane.
Suddenly, Lightning slowly began to wake up. He slowly opened his eyes to see Silverstream smiling at him while gently stroking his mane.
“You doing okay, cutie?” She asked softly.
Lightning looked at the pink hippogriff sadly before slowly shaking his head in response. “I had another bad dream.”
“What was it about, kid?” Gallus asked worriedly.
“I’ve dreamt, about the day, The Storm King invaded Mount Aris,” Lightning answered sadly, “I saw all of the hippogriffs, including you, Silverstream, running away in fear as The Storm King attacked the place and making the king become Tempest Plagueis before you all turned into seaponies and went into hiding in the sea with your new kingdom Seaquestria. It was terrible, I didn’t like how he treated them and how the king betrayed them and you, Silverstream.”
Silverstream felt sad after hearing about his dream. But she refused to let the sadness get to her and continued to be brave so she can be there for the colt she shared a brother and sister bond with for so long.
“Oh cutie, it’s alright,” she said softly as she gently stroked his back in comfort, “It’s all over now. We’re all free now, and The Storm King is no more. I was still afraid of him, even after his defeat, but not anymore. He even crossed the line when he scared you as a shadow like he did to me in my test.”
Lightning, however, was still not feeling better. He looked away while trying not to show Silverstream the sadness on his face.
“I’m sorry, Silverstream,” he said sadly.
“For what?” Asked Silverstream in confusion.
“For letting The Storm King invade your home.” Tears started to form in Lightning’s eyes as he continued, “When he was looking for me.”
Silverstream felt her heart ache after hearing that. Lightning was now blaming himself for what happened to her and the hippogriffs a long time ago before The Storm King invaded Canterlot.
“Lightning, that wasn’t your fault,” she said to him, “You didn’t know you were the grandson of The Storm King, even after you were born. And neither did me, Aunt Novo and the hippogriffs know he was searching for you when he invaded, and Twilight and the others didn’t know either when he started attack Canterlot.”
But that didn’t stop Lightning from feeling guilty as tears started to slowly run down his face.
“I-I l-let h-him ruin y-your lives,” sobbed Lightning, “It w-was a-all my f-fault.”
“No, it wasn’t,” said Silverstream.
“I’m w-what The S-Storm K-King is. I-I’m a m-monster, and T-The S-Storm Pony.”
“No, you’re not,” said Silverstream while shaking her head.
“I m-made e-every hippogriff and e-every c-creature live i-in t-terror, b-because he was l-looking for m-me! I-I ruined a-all l-lives! Q-Queen N-Novo will be m-mad at m-me, a-and…” Before Lightning could continue, he felt Silverstream’s claws gently picking him up as she pulled him close to her and gently hugged him in comfort.
“Lightning cutie, what happened long ago, wasn’t your fault,” Silverstream said softly while gently stroking the colt’s back, “You didn’t know you were The Storm King’s grandson and he was looking for you. None of us know either. And Aunt Novo would never be mad at you if she knew or hears about the truth of The Storm King’s actions, she’ll understand and treat you with love and respect. And I could never hate or blame you for making us go into hiding for so long, do you know why?”
Lightning sniffled before replying, “W-Why?”
“Because I love you,” she answered softly, “With all of my heart.”
“We love you too, Lightning,” said Ocellus, “You’re our friend, we can never leave you because you’re The Storm King’s grandson. And you’re nothing like him, you’re one of us.”
“And family and friends stick together no matter,” added Smolder.
Lightning looked at his friends, while tears were still rolling down his face, as a small smile slowly formed on his face. His friends really still wanna be friends with him no matter if he was part of The Storm King’s family or not.
Gallus walked over to Silverstream and started to gently rub the young colt’s shoulder in comfort.
“It’s all gonna be okay, kid,” he said to him in a friendly tone, “We’re here for you.”
With Silverstream hugging Lightning and Gallus gently rubbing his shoulder in comfort, the rest of the group gathered round them to show their support for Lightning and will always be there for him.
“You’re one of us, cutie,” whispered Silverstream softly in Lightning’s ear, “You’ll always be.”
Lightning said nothing and rest his head on Silverstream’s fur chest as the pink hippogriff gently brushed the tears away with his claw and continued to hug him.