What Hath Joined Together

by Bad_Seed_72


Habeas Corpus — Part I

Habeas Corpus — Part I

Flash Sentry woke the next morning with a clear mind and clean eyes. Emboldened by his unexpectedly pleasant night, neither of his cheeks had been matted with tears during his slumber. He rose quickly, not one stumble or stagger in his step. Not one semblance of a headache or stomachache drew him back to bed or urged him to forego his duties.

Rising about thirty minutes before the trumpets would sound, Flash snuck out of his room to the showers a few levels below, mindful of the bar-stamp and Spitfire’s advice. There, he took a quick shower alone, making sure that he scrubbed his left fetlock clear of the bartender’s markings.

After toweling off, he rushed back up the stairs, hoping to beat or meet Greyhoof’s arrival. Luckily, he slipped into his room and dried his mane before his servant arrived.

“Good morning, Flash,” Greyhoof said with a light bow.

“Good morning, Greyhoof.”

“Took a shower this morning, didn’t you, sire?”

Flash nodded. “How could you tell?”

“Your mane’s still wet.” Greyhoof turned to the closet, gathering Flash’s armor and shining it in preparation for his knight’s return to Royal Court. “Not that it is a problem, of course. You were starting to need it,” he added with a playful chuckle.

Laughing, Flash finished drying his mane, then walked over to his wardrobe and grabbed his manebrush. While he took to taming his mane, Greyhoof polished one piece of golden armor after the other in contemplative silence.

As Greyhoof went through the motions, he eyed Flash from the corner of his eye. None of Flash’s typical melancholy was present. Although he wasn’t whistling a jaunty tune or anything of the sort, he thought with a cheeky grin, there was a definite cheerfulness about the pegasus.

Tilting his head, Greyhoof spoke up once he had finished shining the armor. “How was your little… shindig last night, sire?”

Flash grinned. “Actually, much better than I thought it would be.”

Greyhoof raised an eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”

As he gave his mane one last brush, Flash explained, “Well, first of all, the place was actually much nicer than I expected. Considering it was Steel and Spear inviting me, I was thinking that Thermals was going to be one of those little dive-bars they’re always prowling around.”

Greyhoof rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes. Those two are always so… delightfully rustic.” He motioned for Flash to approach him, chestplate in his forehooves. Flash complied, making no objection as Greyhoof snapped him into his armor.

Flash stretched a wing out to preen while Greyhoof set to work. “Second, there were… quite a lot of pegasi there, and even a few others. Everypony seemed friendly enough.” Even that bartender, though I won’t be taking drink recommendations from him anymore.

“Others? Non-pegasi? That is very interesting, sire.”

“I thought so.” Pulling a feather straight with his teeth, Flash paused for a moment before he added, “Even a few of the Wonderbolts showed up.”

His tired eyes lighting up at the mention of the renowned flying team, Greyhoof’s smile reappeared with a vengeance. “Wonderbolts? Really?”

Flash nodded and folded his wings back to his sides. “Really really. They were very nice, too! Not anything like I expected. I even chatted with one of them for over an hour!” He beamed at this last statement, a light blush rising up on his muzzle at the recollection. Laughing, talking with Soarin and Spitfire… Well, mostly Spitfire, since Soarin’s mouth was full of pie most of the night. Not that I minded...

“Oh, ho, ho.” Patting Flash on the back, Greyhoof leaned towards him and mused with a coy grin, “So you did meet somepony.”

Though he immediately shook his muzzle in response, Flash’s springing wings seemed to confirm Greyhoof’s taunt. Pushing them furiously back down, Flash insisted, “N-no I didn’t! Not really…”

“’Not really’? Not really is not the same as no, dear boy.” Unwilling to let it go, Greyhoof smirked. “Was it the beautiful Spitfire, by chance?”

“How—how did you…?!” Scarlet, Flash took a step back and occupied himself with straightening the blue bristles on his helmet. He avoided Greyhoof’s gaze and face-hoofed away from him. Oh, c’mon, Flash! Really? Get a grip.

After a few more laughs, Greyhoof calmed down and patted Flash on the shoulder. “My apologies, Flash. I couldn’t help myself. Though,” he admitted with a grin, “I’m glad to hear that you had a nice time. It is good to cut loose once in a while. Meet somepony new. Maybe even make a new friend.”

Regaining his composure, Flash Sentry nodded. “Yes, you’re right. You know, I’m actually glad I went out there. In fact, I wouldn’t be opposed to going out to Thermals again.”

“Oh? And why is that, sire?” Greyhoof asked.

“Well... Let’s just say I met somewhat of a… kindred soul last night,” Flash said with a wink.

His smile falling, Greyhoof’s muzzle turned stern. “Now, sire, I do hope that you are being careful.”

Flash held up a forehoof. “Don’t worry, Greyhoof. I’m pretty sure that I can trust them. And I won’t be telling them everything.” Or telling anypony, for that matter.

“Alright, then,” Greyhoof said, sounding skeptical. “Just remember that liquor relaxes the tongue as well as the mind. The drinker might forget their promises, even if they mean no harm. Many a dissenting opinion, for better or for worse, has been shared under the guise of unassuming gossip. And gossip, sire, is something that nopony can truly erase, no matter how hard they try.”

“I know,” Flash replied, seeking to change the subject. He extended his wings and puffed out his chest a bit. “How do I look?”

Greyhoof smiled. “Perfect, sire. Worthy of a knight ready to return to his duties, if I may say.”

Beaming, Flash replied, “That’s what I was going for.”

Not just another day today. I’m stationed back at Royal Court, out of Ironhoof’s mane—for now, at least—got a decent night and decent night’s sleep under my wing… Sure, it’ll be tough, but why not be a little confident today? Try to drag that happiness out?

And besides… Now I know I am not alone anymore. And that’s something, right?

Greyhoof trotted over to the door and opened it for his friend. “Indeed, sire. And you have met that expectation well.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” Greyhoof said, bowing again.

Flash started out the door, then paused in the threshold, tilting his head. “Say, Greyhoof…”

“Yes, sire?”

“… How did you guess it was Spitfire?”

Dismissing him with a forehoof, Greyhoof said before departing, “Sire, one does not give away all their secrets so easily.”

~

“Ugh… Why did you let me drink so much?” Steel Wind groaned, shoving a bite of dry toast into his even drier mouth. The bread stuck to the roof of his mouth like sawdust, adding to the nausea churning in his stomach. He struggled not to retch, setting the toast back down. Bringing his forehooves to his head, he laid down on the breakfast table and closed his eyes.

Sharp Spear splashed cold water from his glass over his muzzle and rubbed his eyes, not caring that some of his armor had gotten wet as well. “I could ask the same of you, Steel. You should’ve stopped me after that fifth vodka and cranberry!” Coughing, he valiantly fought the urge to add to his bowl of oatmeal, holding his stomach and rocking back and forth.

Beside them, Flash Sentry munched on his sweet oats, rolling his eyes. “You’re welcome for flying you two back last night, by the way.”

In a unison of raspy, strained voices, Steel and Spear muttered, “Thanks, Flash.”

“Not a problem,” Flash said with a smug grin. Taking an eager bite of his toast, which was smothered in butter and jam, he asked, “Looking forward to your assignments today?”

Steel raised a forehoof and unfurled his wings, wrapping them around himself. “Ugh… Ironhoof has me set for armory guarding today. Hopefully nopony needs a new spear,” he said, glancing over at Flash, “because I don’t even think I’ll be able to do the paperwork before noon.”

Spear scoffed and removed his helmet. “You wouldn’t be able to do the paperwork anyway, Steel!” Grabbing his water glass, he dumped the rest on his mane and face, groaning in relief. “It’s so hooooot down here...”

Scooting away, Flash grabbed his bowl of oats protectively and scowled. “Spear, watch it! You almost drowned my breakfast!”

“It’s his fault!” Spear deflected, pointing across the table at Steel. “I told him to keep track of time and watch for any cute mares!”

“And when you didn’t see one up to your standards, you drank ‘their’ drinks!” Steel weakly lifted his head from the table to snicker at the accusatory pegasus. “I’m starting to think you just ordered those for yourself!”

Flash Sentry rolled his eyes, occupying himself with his oats. While Spear and Steel jabbed at each other through their hangovers, he looked around the Great Hall, noting that Captain Ironhoof was eating amongst his lessers this morning.

Seated at the officers’ table, Captain Ironhoof appeared to be in deep conversation with his second-in-command: Lieutenant Shooting Star. Although a pegasus, Shooting Star was believed by some among Flash Sentry’s rank to be a more competent warrior than the Captain. Nevertheless, the decision had been made by Shining Armor, and, Flash knew, rules that preceded any of them.

Captain Ironhoof whispered something to Shooting Star before glancing towards Flash. Shooting Star nodded, then followed Ironhoof's gaze.

Flash froze, his spoon still halfway to his mouth when Ironhoof rose from the officers’ table and started towards them. Steel Wind and Sharp Spear carried on with their quarrel, failing to notice the stern Captain heading their way.

“—If you would have just told me that you weren’t willing to be my wing-pony—“

“—Not like you were going to get anywhere with those mares, Spear! Are you really so thick-skulled that—“

“—Much better chance than you, Steel! When was the last time you took a shower? Seriously—”

“—Says the one who’s stinkin’ up our bunkbed! Give me a br—“

Guys!” Slamming a forehoof on the table—to the groan of both hungover stallions—Flash hissed between his teeth, “The Captain is coming this way!”

While Spear and Steel exchanged panicked glances and struggled to scoop their jaws off the floor, Flash Sentry sat up straight on his side of the bench, folded his wings shut, and avoided the approaching, disapproving gaze of his Captain.

His eyes narrowed, Ironhoof made his way to Flash’s table quickly. Neither Steel nor Spear had the chance to compose themselves properly before the Captain said, his words sharp and biting, “Now I remember why I choose to eat most of my meals in my office. At least there I get a little peace!” Shooting daggers at the two who’d been bickering only moments beforehoof, he added, “Must you disturb the entire Great Hall with your incessant chatter?!”

Flash glanced around the room from the corner of his eye. Almost everypony was staring their way now, many with smirks on their muzzles. Though grateful that he hadn’t earned Ironhoof’s attention, he couldn’t help but flinch as the Captain stared into his friends with a look meant to kill.

Shaking and bowing his head fervently, Steel Wind was the first to apologize. “Y-yes, sir! Sorry, sir! It won’t happen again, s-sir!”

Sharp Spear nodded in agreement, nearly smacking his head against the table as he did so. “I apologize, s-sir! I will make sure Steel doesn’t start anything again, sir!”

Under the table, Spear received a swift kick to the shin. He bit his lip, hard, almost enough to draw blood. Flash inwardly groaned and waited for Captain Ironhoof to scold them.

Surprisingly, Ironhoof chose not to comment on Spear’s deflection, instead replying, “Good. I’ve got enough on my hooves without having to deal with your little tiff.”

The two stallions bowed their heads again, muttering thanks and apologies.

Ironhoof met Flash’s eyes, the rage in his own replaced by a stern determination. “Flash Sentry. Come with me.”

Flash flinched for a second, a bolt of ice squeezing its way through his chest. What did I do THIS time? In a brief moment of panic, he glanced down at his left fetlock. It was still clean.

Ironhoof snorted, glaring at him. “Did I stutter?”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Flash said as cleanly as he could, “No, sir. Forgive me, sir.” With the eyes of the Great Hall following his every motion, he rose from his seat to his hooves, then followed after the Captain.

While they trotted towards the exit, Flash glanced again from the corner of his eye. There, Steel Wind and Sharp Spear stared in dumbfounded disbelief, appearing more fearful for their friend than they had been for their own predicament.

~

Twilight stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath, catching it in her chest. When she let it go, she opened her eyes and her muzzle, reciting the same two sentences for the umpteenth time that morning.

“Orion, son of Comet Trail and Starlight, you have been charged with three counts of assaulting an officer of the Royal Guard and one count of attempted assault upon a member of the Royal Family. The maximum penalty for these charges is—”

Twilight face-hoofed, shaking her head at her reflection. “No. No. That’s still too quiet,” she mumbled in exasperation. “Try it again.”

Drawing in another shaky breath, Twilight tried again, attempting to inject more courage or confidence into her words. No matter how many times she repeated herself, she still could detect no more authority in her voice than the previous try. She felt and sounded more authoritative, she reasoned, when she asked Spike to dictate a letter.

At the thought of Spike, Twilight Sparkle looked around her chambers and sighed, lowering her wings. Not only had she missed Cadence’s arrival in Ponyville a few days ago due to her royal duties, but she had also not seen her closest friend in almost a week. While she doubted that Spike minded too much—Probably spending a lot of time at Carousel Boutique, she thought with a giggle—she missed him still.

He was more than sufficient at calming her nerves in times like this.

Shaking herself out of those thoughts, Twilight lifted a forehoof and cleared her throat, pointing to her reflection as she practiced those weighty words once more.

“Orion, son of Comet Trail and Starlight, you have been—”

A knock at the door sent her spinning around, feathers rustled and wings unfurled in slight surprise. “W-who is it?” she called, cursing the lingering stammer in her voice.

“It’s me, Twilight.”

The familiar, comforting voice of her mentor calmed her racing mind and heart, if only for a moment. “You can come in, Celestia,” she said with a small smile.

Twilight began to spark her horn, her magic interrupted by the yielding of her door to a quicker aura. Celestia walked in carefully, her own muzzle painted with a slight smile as well. Though, Twilight noted, it appeared to be pained, as if added by afterthought.

“How are you feeling?” Celestia asked, meeting her by the mirror. “Did you sleep well, Twilight?”

Folding her wings to her sides, Twilight sighed. “As well as I could, Celestia.”

Celestia tilted her head. “How long have you been standing in front of this mirror?”

“Um…” Twilight forced a chuckle. “Maybe an hour?”

“Have you had breakfast yet?”

“Er…” Another awkward little laugh. “I was, um, getting to it.”

Celestia extended a wing towards her, stroking her shoulder lightly with her wingtips. “If you like, Twilight, we can postpone the hearing until later this afternoon. Or even the evening. I’m sure that Luna will not mind if we extend Royal Court into her night, if just for a day.”

A smaller wing rose up to meet Celestia’s, brushing back. “No, it’ll be alright.” With a roll of her eyes and a shrug, Twilight added, “You know how I am when it comes to worrying.”

“True. Of course, a little anxiety is to be expected about these sorts of things. Ask Luna about my first day of Royal Court sometime, long, long ago. You seem profoundly well-adjusted in comparison to that, Twilight.”

They shared a laugh.

“I suppose you’re right.” Rising from her haunches, Twilight stepped away from the mirror. Her stomach rumbled as she rose, prompting a slight blush and another chuckle. “Eh, heh, maybe I should get something to eat.”

With a nod, Celestia stood up beside her. “There are plenty of pancakes in the Royal Dining Hall. Just the way you like them. Unless you’d rather eat in here…”

Twilight started for the door. “Oh, no. I think I’ll be alright, Celestia.”

Celestia beamed. “I know you will be.”

~

Captain Ironhoof remained silent, his muzzle stern, his eyes focused on the path before them. Flash followed alongside him, only a hoof-step behind in pace, letting his eyes wander. Down a maze of corridors he followed his Captain, allowing loyalty to suppress his fear and keep him silent.

Unlike the Ironhoof of the battlefield, this Ironhoof gave no directions, no edicts as of yet to the knight following him into the dark.

When the armory reared into view, Flash’s heart started to stammer again, a halved spear dotting his consciousness. Maybe somepony saw Spear with the broken weapon?

As Ironhoof ignored the room and continued onward, Flash’s thoughts turned to last night’s bar escapade instead. Maybe he noticed the marks on Steel and Spear’s fetlocks—neither of them shower as much as they should, ugh!—and he wants to question me about them? But why wouldn’t he have confronted them in the Great Hall, then?

A recollection of two glowing, red eyes piercing through the blanket of night struck Flash when Ironhoof began ascending a set of stairs. Or maybe somepony saw me on that cloud with Spitfire… But! I was off-duty then… I wasn’t doing anything wrong! Right? Feeling his nape begin to dampen with sweat, Flash swallowed his fear and continued after his superior, up, up, up...

When they reached the top, the Royal Courtroom entered Flash’s field of vision. While it was close to opening for another day of Royal Court, none of the Princesses appeared to be waiting for them. Flash realized that he and Ironhoof were alone on this level—at least for now.

Ironhoof remained as talkative as a statue while he walked over to the great double doors of the Courtroom. Only when Flash halted beside him did Ironhoof chisel away at his muzzle and speak, turning to face him at last.

Standing up straight and tall, Ironhoof cleared his throat and gestured to the great doors. “Today, Flash Sentry, at high noon, the prisoner Orion shall be brought from the dungeons to Royal Court in order to hear the charges against him.”

Though his words were professional, the tone in Ironhoof’s voice was anything but. Flash Sentry could practically taste the haughtiness in them. Resisting the urge to gag, he nodded and bowed his head. “I see, sir.”

“While this is not an official trial, I would hope you understand the importance regardless.”

“Yes, sir.”

Habeas corpus.” Ironhoof glanced around the empty corridors near the hallway, smirking a little as he scoffed to himself. “Branded into Equestrian law from the days of our founders. The right of the accused to hear the charges against them within two days of arrest.

“Far too much than many of these rotten criminals deserve,” he added under his breath, staring straight at Flash.

Let’s hear you say that in front of the Princesses.

Flash bowed his head again, burying his derision. “Yes, sir.”

Ironhoof gestured for Flash to rise. When he did so, he continued, “Normally, these hearings are of little importance. One Royal Guard, the Princesses, the Prince, and myself listening to somepony plead guilty and beg for forgiveness. Not even a hint of trouble from the scum. Not even a kick.” A spark of a grin shot across Ironhoof’s muzzle as he paused in thought.

Turning around, Ironhoof stared at the doors and grit his teeth, his grin disappearing. “I have a feeling that this one will not be as gentle.”

The Captain shifted back to his soldier. “Flash Sentry, I want you to be very focused during this hearing, absolutely keen on keeping watch for any sign of escape or attack from our criminal. Keep your eyes glued to prisoner, and don’t let him even twitch a hoof towards freedom. Use force if you have to, and if he gets feisty, watch for my signals.

“I will have two additional Royal Guards in the Courtroom as well, by the prisoner’s side—just in case. I do not want any more… accidents,” Ironhoof finished, a hint of bitterness in his tone.

“Yes, sir,” Flash said with a nod, appearing unfazed by the implied insult. An accident was allowing you to—

Ironhoof scanned the room with his gaze, checking once more to ensure that they were alone. “Good. Now… As to why I have brought you here alone…”

Other than to keep me afraid, Flash thought, the hint of a snarl jumping across his jaws before he could contain it. Luckily, Ironhoof didn’t look back in time to see it, meeting Flash’s eyes only when his muzzle was blank again.

“I want this to be clear. What happened on Princess Twilight Sparkle’s first day of Royal Court is starting to become known. While reporters, photographers, and the like are more than welcome at trials—how rare they are—hearings are different. Mostly because, like I said, the little worms give up when they know they have no chance of swaying the judges.”

There it was—Ironhoof’s smirk again. Flash swore he could feel the oats he’d just ingested beginning to boil over in his stomach.

“However… The press is not explicitly barred from attending a hearing, or reporting on it. As far as I know, nopony with any of the papers shall be attending the hearing today, but I am sure at least one will be here afterwards to report on it.”

Slowly, the mystery of his isolation began to resolve before Flash Sentry’s eyes. Feeling the intensity of the Captain’s gaze, he nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“I want to be absolutely sure that this is clear. There will be no more accidents with this—this scumbag,” Ironhoof spat, snorting steam through his nostrils, “and that my Guard shall not be portrayed as incompetent or undisciplined in the face of a simple task, such as restraining and securing a prisoner at his own hearing.”

Incompetence? Flash felt himself beginning to match Ironhoof’s steam, fighting back the treachery of his wings and jaws. Willing himself not to show offense, he nodded heavily. “Yes, sir.”

Ironhoof was pacing around him now, his armor unable to conceal a light layer of sweat clinging to his coat. “Free speech is guaranteed by our law. I cannot tell the press how to portray my soldiers. I can tell my soldiers, however, to make sure that nothing akin to what happened a few days ago ever, ever, happens again.”

Muzzle-to-muzzle with him, Captain Ironhoof whispered, “Do I make myself clear, Flash Sentry?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Flash Sentry replied, swallowing hard. He could feel his wings shaking.

“Don’t think for a second that you are receiving special treatment. The other three guards who will be at that hearing will receive this same lecture. I want to make sure there are no weak links in our chain. Understood?”

Understand this, you—

“Understood, sir.”

Captain Ironhoof stepped away, grinning. “Perhaps you have taken my words yesterday to heart. Keep up that discipline, Flash Sentry.”

Avoiding his superior’s gaze, Flash bowed this time, knowing from the finality in his tone that the conversation was over. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

Tracing the patterns of the floor beneath his hooves, Flash Sentry kept his head down. He heard Ironhoof’s hooves meet the top of the stairs, then the bottom, then whisk away into a corridor. The Captain’s steps were heavy and swift, doubtlessly keen on drawing away one of the three other unlucky guards who would have to endure today’s spectacle.

Once he finally rose, sighed, and stretched his wings, Flash Sentry traced the patterns of the great doors next. In swaths of royal blue and purple, the doors resembled a great map of Equestria, past and present. The patterns began to merge and swirl into a haze of everything and nothing as Flash swam through his thoughts, allowing the full force of Ironhoof’s words to drown him.

Press… Guards… Princesses…

All of this for one stallion who couldn’t take it anymore…

Assaulting a Guard? At least a year in the dungeon. Three, and trying to harm a Princess on top of that?

He wouldn’t even—

“Flash?”

Her voice.

Catching a yelp with a forehoof over his mouth, Flash spun around, bowing at the same time that he chained his wings to his sides. “Pr-Princess!”

No! Not yet! Not so soon!

Twilight walked up to him, her hoof-steps echoing through the empty corridors. Another sound entered his ears: her light chuckle. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness.” There! Sound normal for once when you speak to her!

While his voice complied this time, his eyes locked onto her forehooves—not even three feet away from him, her golden horseshoes shining in the early-morning light…

“You can stand up, Flash,” she said, smiling down at him, in that same way and same voice that she had said it two days ago, and the day before that, and the day before…

Scrambling up to his hooves, Flash Sentry mentally cursed himself with the vocabulary of a blasphemer and the rage of Ironhoof. Standing here like an idiot, don’t even have my spear yet for my post, looking at these doors like a foal…

Not even forty-eight hours had passed, and yet, here Flash Sentry was, facing her—the one he had wronged. A habeas corpus of his own, with only Princess Twilight Sparkle acting as judge. Nopony was there to guard the guard. Only the rising sun accompanied them in this moment, pouring in from the windows, watching.

“Heh…” A chuckle slipped past his muzzle. A simple face-hoof would’ve been far too generous; if given the opportunity, Flash Sentry would have punched himself. He bowed again, though only with his head. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I was… not expecting you.”

“That’s alright!” Twilight said, chuckling back. “I… I’m early, too. I thought nopony else would be up here.”

Trying to find an excuse to avoid her gaze, Flash Sentry mocked a sweep of the room, darting his eyes all around. “Ah, yes, Your Highness. It appears there is… nopony else.”

Nopony…

About thirty minutes before Royal Court would begin, Flash Sentry stood before the Princess he had dishonored.

Alone.

Nopony here, but I, and…

Twilight nodded. “Yes… Have you been informed of the special session taking place today at n—”

“Y-yes, Princess!” Flash blurted, tearing himself from his thoughts.

Twilight’s eyes widened, taken aback.

Flames roared up on his cheeks, becoming a blaze, a tempest. Flash Sentry stumbled on his hooves for a moment, wanting to grip a spear that wasn’t there—to defend himself from an internal threat.

It was too early. He was here too early, and she was here, too, and they were having a conversation, and it was just—

“S-sorry!” Flash began bowing fervently, dipping himself to the floor and back up at least three times before he added, “I—I need to g-get something! I’ll—I’ll be right back, Your Highness!”

Before Twilight could say anything more, Flash Sentry bolted away, down the stairs, and into a hallway.

Sighing, Twilight looked up at the doors. In a little more than five hours, she would face the stallion who had looked at her with true fire in his eyes and pure hate in his heart. The stallion who, although he was purely equine, seemed to be more frightening than any corrupted spirit she had faced.

Perhaps, Twilight reasoned, that’s why she felt so strange about this whole thing.