All the king's horses and all the king's men

After a few minutes of looking down at the astonishing scene that took place beneath her; Celestia sank down onto the ground at the edge of the clearing. She looked at Ramsay’s still form and felt tears begin to roll down her face. He didn't need to die for this, he never wanted any of this. It seemed odd to Celestia why anything would die for its enemies. Particularily a human, and to think she didnt even know who he was. After another ten minutes she shakily got up and unfurled her wings to return to Ponyville, casting a final look back at Ramsay's motionless form in the middle of the clearing before rising up into the air and flying off in the direction of the town.

~.~

When Celestia finally returned to the town she landed with her head hung, not acknowledging any of her guards’ salutes, breathing heavy, shuddering breaths as she trotted towards her tent. At entering she found that Twilight and Luna were still awake and talking, though the subject of their discussion quickly became secondary when they saw Celestia’s face.

“Sister what happened?” Luna asked worriedly as both she and Twilight rushed to the white Alicorn’s side. Celestia simply walked over to a pile of plump, feathery cushions and lay down, resting her head on one and staring at a candle that happened to be nearby as its flame flickered and danced in the slight breeze let in by a crack in the tent’s folds. She continued ignoring the worried questions of both Twilight and Luna as she looked at the flame. Suddenly a gust of wind blew into the tent, snuffing the flame, and threw her expression into darkness. At this Celestia remained still, looking at the smoking wick as its final embers died down.

Twilight and Luna continued doing their best to comfort her even when not knowing the cause of her distress and at the same time trying to coax an answer out of the silent Alicorn. It was a long while before Celestia rose and told the two what she had seen. 'Disbelieving' would be an understatement to anypony asked to describe their expressions. But after seeing the seriousness in Celestia's eyes they quickly believed her story, and felt her pain.

“Do not worry sister” Luna said, standing and pulling Celestia into an embrace which she returned. “In the morning we will go out and retrieve his body, he will be buried properly by his allies.”

Celestia then turned to Twilight and attempted to smile “Twilight… tell any of the humans that have woken up that they have my permission to send four of their number to accompany us.”

Twilight nodded and rushed out of the tent, leaving just Luna and Celestia to talk.

“Sister what is it you want to tell me that you did not want Twilight to hear? we both know that none of the humans will have awoken by now.” Luna asked as soon as Twilight was out of earshot.

“Luna…” Celestia said dejectedly “He suffered so much in his final moments…and for all the power I was told I wielded I could do nothing!” She elaborated, sounding depressed.

“Why didn’t you do anything?” Luna asked leading Celestia to the cushions where they both sat, Luna cradling her sister's head and stroking her mane comfortingly.

“I- I don’t know…” Celestia said, looking deep into her sisters blue eyes. “Luna, humans are supposed to be monsters, like mother told us in her stories… not like this”

“Sister do not  tear at yourself  thinking like this.” Luna said gently.

“You don’t understand, I was there and I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t help him because that would the opposite of what he would have wanted and I couldn’t be there for his final moments or Nightmare Moon would have survived and his sacrifice would have been for nothing.” Celestia paused to take a deep, shuddering breath before she looked at Luna “What bothers me most is that he died alone, cold and bleeding and I could have been there to comfort or at least thank him.”

“But you were there for him Tia!” Luna said, putting a hoof under her sister’s chin and helping her look back at her. “Simply by doing what you did and letting him be you were there for him, and maybe…” Luna continued, levitating the extinguished candle before Celestia “by remembering him for his best, though we didn’t know him all too well, do we keep him truly alive.” Suddenly the candle burst into flames, dancing in the breeze once more.

~.~

Dawn broke over Ponyville. However there was something different about this dawn. It wasn’t the usual bright sunny day the ponies were hoping for. It was a cold, hard sun; one that would begin to melt the snow that had remained on the land for so long. In the town square a small band of ponies and humans were preparing to begin their trek into the Everfree forest. Among them were the princesses, the Mane six and Shining Armour. Of the humans accompanying them were the two grenadiers, Nicholas and Robert. The newly roused general said that he would take command in their absence as they set off into the forest. Each of them were filled with mixed emotions, to the ponies it was fear and sadness that occupied their minds while the humans were in a state of disbelief, and had refused to believe that Ramsay was dead until they saw a body.

After another two hours of walking through the snow Celestia’s breathing became ragged as she began to recognize certain pieces of landscape that told them that they were getting close. When she stopped dead the Mane six worried that she had become lost until Luna stepped forward.

“We have arrived.” She announced.

And rest assured just ahead of them was the clearing. Suddenly the silence was broken by a scrabbling noise accompanied by a low growl. When the ponies finally cleared the trees they found Ramsay’s body being gnawed at by a lone timber wolf.

“Get away from him ya bastard!” Nicholas yelled, drawing his pistol and firing at the wooden creature, which simply absorbed the shot and ran off into the forest. As the humans moved forwards another, far more resonating growl reached their ears, the men then slowly backed off, away from Ramsay’s body as a Manticore appeared from the other side of the clearing. As they all backed off they were surprised to see Celestia move forwards and stand facing the Manticore. In response the beast roared, moving forwards and dragging Ramsay a few feet towards him. Just as the onlookers thought that the beast would get its prize Celestia spoke, her words were like ice, cutting through the haze of confusion and fear.

“You cannot take him.” She said simply.

The Manticore looked at Celestia with an oddly competent, questioning look on its face. Quickly though its hunger drove that off as lowered its head to bite into Ramsay’s shoulder. However before it could, Celestia took yet another step forward.

“You cannot have him; he is not yours to take.”

At this the Manticore seemed to cringe under an unseen pressure before turning tail and bolting back into the forest. Slowly the rest of the group approached Celestia, their mouths hanging open.

“WOW Princess!” Pinkie Pie said staring at the spot where the Manticore had disappeared. Soon though their attention was drawn back to the body in the middle of the clearing, the humans immediately noticed something odd about it.

“A crimson angel…” Zane said, moving to stand at Ramsay’s feet.

Wondering as to their meaning, Celestia and the rest of the ponies all moved to where Zane had stood. Their curiosity was immediately satisfied when she looked down at Ramsay from the same angle as the humans had done. When the beast had dragged him his blood had made the appearance of wings under his arms. It was uncannily eerie as well as horrifying. Celestia timidly walked up to him and lowered herself to the ground near his head, using a hoof to close his eyes.

“What was he like?” Celestia asked no one in particular.

“Begging your pardon Ma’am?” Ferris asked, wondering who she was talking to.

“What was he like as a friend, as a person rather than as an enemy?” Celestia elaborated.

“Umm…Princess I don’t know if…” Robert began

“It is far harder to let the memory of someone go if you know their story princess; however I will not refuse you, if you choose to ask again me and my compatriots will do our best to answer your questions.” Zane cut in, finishing Robert’s sentence.

“Tell me…” Celestia said

“Sister” Luna began moving to rest next to Celestia “maybe it would be for the best if you simply let him go. You have watched many a friend, hero and loved one pass away in your years, why has his death affected you so?”

“Please, I need to know.” She said, ignoring the repeated warnings.

“Honourable” Robert said.

“A gentleman” Ferris continued

“Follower to any cause he believed was just” Zane said, drawing himself to his full height.

Nicholas was Ramsay’s best friend. They had enlisted together and were the only survivors of their previous detachment. He took a step forwards and glared at Celestia. After a few more moments of looking at her his lip curled.

"To die for what you believe in is a great sacrifice, to live with the knowledge of that sacrifice is in itself an even greater sacrifice. I hope you think it was worthy.” He said.

With that the men all set about gathering anything of importance from the clearing and finally picked up Ramsay’s body, and began the walk back to town.

~.~

When they arrived everypony in the street froze to look at the procession. Some ponies even followed the men as they gently set Ramsay’s body down on a table placed near the makeshift gallows that had been erected for the humans. Immediately after Ramsay lay on the table the four others were led back into their cages. Celestia was just about to turn when a commotion drew her attention back to the humans. One of the ones she hadn’t spoken to was yelling at Shining Armour, demanding to examine the body. At once the princesses went to see what the commotion was about.

“You there” Luna said, an air of authority dominating her voice as she looked at the human. “What is the meaning of this disturbance?”

The man removed his hat, revealing a head of dark brown hair.

“Begging you pardon madam, I am this platoon’s medical officer. It is my duty to examine its men, be they post or ante mortem.”

Luna looked at the man coolly before turning to Twilight. “It’s your town Twilight. It’s your choice.”

Twilight looked at the man. He seemed to be in his late forties. He was tall and thin. She also noticed that he didn’t seem as brutish as the other men. Finally she nodded slowly and Shining Armour moved aside, allowing the man to walk past with an indignant huff.

He walked up to Ramsay’s body and pulled a pair of spectacles from his jacket.

“Ah, what a pity” He mumbled to himself, looking over the corpse and examining its severed hand “He had so much potential, the only one of these ruffians that actually read my medical books rather than looking through them for pictures of tits, begging your pardon your highness.” He continued, tipping his hat and seemingly ignoring everything that went on around him.

Twilight moved towards the cage that held the humans and whispered “Does he always talk to himself like that?”

“Yes, don’t let it fool you though; the man is a brilliant doctor. He was civilian loyalist that decided that ten years in the Americas was enough. He keeps talking about how he ‘misses London’s sorrow.’ No doubt that man is not in the norm, and yet he wouldn’t look at you for less than ten Guineas in England.” Ferris replied.

“Oh dear” He said, yanking the bayonet from Ramsay’s body with a wet *squelch*. At this Celestia immediately looked away remembering the same sound as Ramsay thrust the thing into his body.

“Must you be so uncouth?” Luna asked, irritated at the man’s insensitivity to the feelings of those around him.

In response he turned an eye to look at her and raised an eyebrow. “What would you have me do, hmm? The man is dead; he isn’t going to feel anything.”

“Just get on with it.” Celestia said angrily, glaring back at the doctor who raised his hands in surrender.

“Very well.” He said crisply, placing the bloodied bayonet on the table.

“I may not be a mortician but I know the basics of a postmortem.” The doctor mumbled to himself as he examined Ramsay’s severed hand once more. “Excellent, the cold has preserved this brilliantly, it can be sowed back on... for the sake of appearances.”

Suddenly the doctor snapped his fingers and pointed to a guard who took a few steps back.

“You, bring me my medical case.” He commanded. The guard looked at Shining Armour who nodded in turn. The guard disappeared to the Human’s carriage and returned a moment later with a leather bag in his mouth. As soon as he approached the doctor the bag was yanked from his grasp by the man who flung it on the table, digging all manner of vicious looking instruments from its interior.

“Just going to have a quick feel old chap” The doctor said respectfully, patting Ramsay’s corpse on the chest. “You don’t mind do you? Of course you don’t.”

The doctor then took his index finger and shoved it into the bayonet wound, humming as he did. All the ponies grimaced as he did, some of the guards even rushed to the brush, their faces green and their cheeks puffed out.

Suddenly the doctors face went white, his eyes widened as he looked down at the body.

“Hmm… this is interesting, no signs of even the beginnings of rigor mortis…When did he die?” The doctor called. When no one answered he withdrew his hands and screamed at the bunch. “Who the hell knows when this man died?!”

“I saw it happen” Celestia said crossly, stepping up to face the man “It was last night in the snow, to destroy one of the most evil beings in Equestria.”

“Princess, you don’t know Ramsay like I do, he is far, far too stubborn to die. And if my preliminary thoughts are correct then he is also far cleverer than I gave him credit for.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, moving forward to get a better look at the work the doctor was doing.

He had taken what seemed to be a miniature mirror from his bag; he then quickly polished it on his jacket before placing it under Ramsay’s nose. After a short while it fogged up, causing the doctor to yell in delight.

“Oh you cheeky bastard, you read my notes didn’t you? Ooh, you are very good!” He said, discarding the red coat he wore and standing in his usual civilian white shirt and silver lined waistcoat, the usual attire of a wealthy doctor.

“Alright that is enough!” Celestia said, grabbing the doctor with her magic and slamming his against the table. “What is your name? And what have you discovered about Ramsay?”

“Dr. Haydon Utterson at your service” The doctor said worriedly, sighing in relief as he was released from the magical hold.

“Good, now what do you know?” Celestia continued, smiling inwardly at the evident fear on the once smug doctor’s face.

“Please, let me treat him and then tell you, every minute brings him closer to the precipice of death.” The doctor said, regaining some of his composure as he talked, turning back to Ramsay and cleaning the wound.

“So he is alive!” Celestia said, shock overcoming her system.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself princess” The doctor said “He is extremely far gone; the fact that he is still alive is a huge step in development of a medical theory concerning the use of extreme cold to preserve the body.”

Once again the doctor turned to the body and shoved his finger in through the wound.

“Yes, yes…” He kept mumbling for about a minute before finally pulling his finger out. Turning the ponies and their human captives all saw him beaming.

“Well it seems I was right, as always. It seems that Ramsay has read a few of my notes on a subject that has come into the light of advanced medical care. The theory is as such, cold weather has been known to destroy flesh. So it is controversial to think that the very thing destroying flesh also preserves the vast majority of it. Almost as saltwater is to burns.” The doctor said as he reached into his back and retrieved a bottle of clear liquid, which he then generously sloshed over the stab wound. Retrieving a needle and suture, he then continued talking, more to hear the sound of his own voice rather than for the benefit of his audience.

“Although how he managed to pierce his gut without grazing anything vital is remarkable, and with his left hand too, good lord.” The doctor then proceeded to seal the wound. Grasping the disembodied hand he threw it over his shoulder, stating that now there was no way for it to be re-attached now that he was alive. Thankfully Twilight caught it with her magic just before it landed in the fire, screaming she returned it to the table.

“Oh really” The doctor huffed “you ponies are so squeamish. This must be disposed of so as not to spread disease.”

“Move” Luna yelled at him, having had enough the doctor shifted, muttering things under his breath that would put even a drunken diamond dog to shame. Casually she walked up to him and placed her horn at the severed wrist. In a feat of magic that nopony could have expected from anypony other than one of the princesses; the hand was enveloped by a rich blue light. Instantly it jumped into animation and scuttled across the table like a crab, before finally reaching its owners body. Once there it aligned its severed end with the arm and remained still. Soon though it seemed to regain some of its colour and molded itself back onto Ramsay's arm as if it was made of clay.

The good doctor stood in shock before finally laughing maniacally and gently pushing the princess aside.

"Ooh, you simply must teach me that trick!" He giggled, once more working on the body.

“Tell me you wouldn’t happen to know another trick for making his body warm without burning him?”

The doctor's last comment was extremely sarcastic, conveying his mistrust for magic and all that which he could not see... or rather sink his arm wrist deep into.

At this Celestia smiled and pointed her horn at the sun. In an instant the weather grew hotter, human's collars immediately became soaked and wrinkled with sweat and any snow that had remained melted instantly.

“Bloody show-off.” The doctor said, wrapping more bandages around Ramsay’s middle.

“We must take him to the tower in Canterlot. He will be able to get the most sun and care there.” Princess Celestia said “Doctor you and the rest of the humans will also come. You will be held in the dungeons until we have decided on a suitable punishment for your crimes.”

With that the doctor was led back to his cell and the royal guard prepared to move the regulars to the palace.

~.~

“…until we have decided on a suitable punishment for your crimes.” he heard a voice say.

“I…I can’t feel my body…” Ramsay thought “My god I can’t speak!”

Ramsay continued to simply exist, sitting in blackness, thinking, slowly he began to realize that he was lying on a wooden surface. He also knew when he was moved by hands, Ferris and Zane judging by the size of them. He came to conclude that they had placed him in a carriage. He also knew when the doctor got his hands on him. He heard the distant voice followed by a sharp prodding to his arms, legs and chest that brought so much pain that Ramsay wished he was numb again. It felt as though a thousand needless were sticking him wherever someone or somepony touched him.

“Does it hurt here?” the doctor’s voice echoed from miles away. In his head Ramsay silently screamed yes, followed by a string of profanities tied together so beautifully that it would have made Shakespeare’s jaw drop.

“Good” the doctor continued before fading away again “… still nothing, majesty. I fear it may be too late…”

Ramsay listened as hard as he could trying to make out the other, more feminine voice. Finally he settled for various snippets of the mysterious conversation.

“I hope for your sake he survives, do not think for a second that his sacrifice will save you from punishment. What you and the rest of your men did is unforgiveable. Princess twilight has something special in mind for you…” Princess Luna’s voice echoed “Now tend to all of the other wounded ponies, me and my sister shall personally escort Ramsay to the top of the tower…”

After that Ramsay couldn’t discern anything. He felt a strange tingling sensation envelop him and a slight breeze blow through his hair. A few minutes later he felt himself come to rest on what felt like a feather bed. He felt the tingling again as he was stripped to his breeches before having a blanket draped over him and hearing another voice speak. He almost didn’t recognize it without the dripping hatred but sure enough he hear Celestia speak.

“You didn’t deserve this.”

In his head Ramsay said but one sentence, grinning inwardly when he discovered that he could now twitch, and even slightly move as his vision began to clear.

“No, we do not.”