The Outlander's Trial

Rainbow Dash struggled futily against her bonds as she helplessly watched Twilight dragged towards the executioner. "Leave her the buck alone! I'll take her place! Let her GO!"

"Oh, yes Loyalty," sneered Trixie, "Rainbow Dash was it, stupid name. Well enjoy the show."

"Cut me loose and you'll be calling me Rainbow THRASH!" At this Dash was gagged, but she still struggled.

Twilight didn't know what to think. Trixie was this evil, and poor Rainbow Dash as well as the others; they were all going to die because of her. Dragged towards the headspony and laid across the block she shouted her final thought. "I'm sorry girls, and I love you Rainbow Dash!" The headspony's axe came up, and Twilight expected it to be the end.

"HAAAAALLLTT!" yelled Baener. All eyes on him he confronted the Queen, "Trixie, I have returned."

"Obviously, but you have failed your mission, and interrupted my beautiful execution. Guards throw this one in with the other captives."

"Hold guards. Queen your mission to me was to bring you Bow-Ayn, alive or dead. Siobhan, bring her out."

Siobhan stepped out from the crowd with a hobbled Bow behind her.

"Oh how perfect. Twilight I guess you have a reprieve, for the moment anyway. Bow you’re going to be my first execution. Oh yes, and because of Breach's defiance I've decided to kill you slowly." Trixie stated with a malignant grin.

Earlier that day.

After just arriving and preparing his small group of Equestrian soldiers, Shining Armour spotted Bow and another dapple flank rushing towards the group.

"Bow!? Your safe but where are the others?" Shining shouted.

"I know you want to know everything," interjected the second dapple flank, "I'm here on behalf of a group of outlands rebels and escaped slaves, we wish to help in any way possible."

"How many do you stand? I've got nine soldiers here. We'll need more than that."

"We've got about thirty ponies as a whole. We’re going to need an expert tacticians plan."

"Excuse me sirs, but I believe I've an idea on the matter," interrupted Octavia, "I've got my cello and Vinyl's been a dear and brought her something special as well."

"But, where’d you come from, no that doesn't matter, but what's Vinyl got?" inquired Shining.

"Nothing special," started the grey mare, when a blue haired mare steeped up, "Just my Bass cannon!"

An hour later the small group of ponies forming the resistance set themselves into their roles for the upcoming battle.

'I'm going out on a limb here trusting Baener' thought Bow 'But I haven't got a choice.'

"Sister, you do realize that once you do this, there is no turning back?" Luna quested.

"I know Luna, and I'm sorry I'll be leaving you, but my role no longer suits me, I was never meant for this. Take care of Equestria Luna; you will make a glorious leader." Celestia responded.

Crying, Luna rushed forward and embraced her older sister, "I love you Celestia."

Tears in her eyes Celestia responded, simply stating, "I know, and I love you too." With that the Solar queen took flight out the window, setting her sights on Ponyville.

Scootaloo felt like garbage as she crawled out from under the fallen cabinets. The med bay was empty, her head throbbing and her left leg would barely support her. She limped towards the exit when she heard the two outlands stallions outside talking about how the Elements were going to be executed. Horrified, Scootaloo did the first thing that came to mind. Setting a trap for the two stallions, she dropped a syringe.

"You hear that?" "Yeah, let’s see what it was." The two outlands stallions entered the med bay.

*Thump**Whumph*

'Out like a pair lights.' smirked Scootaloo. 'Now let’s get to the girls!'

With this thought in mind the filly took off towards Twilight's hill, now covered with outlanders.

Bow was nervous and scared. She was being led towards the main stage through crowds of outlanders.  She knew this was the only way, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Finally coming clear of the crowd she was met with the Queen, Trixie, with Twilight laid out on a block. "Oh how perfect..." Bow tuned her out, not wanting to listen to Trixie's self-righteous propaganda. Looking around she saw Breach first, wincing as she noticed his face beat and bruised. She saw the Elements also bound. Rainbow was still struggling thought. Off to the side she saw Derpy, Big Mac, Braeburn...and Cheerilee? 'I guess the teacher is tougher than I thought.'

Bow suddenly found herself being dragged towards one of Trixie’s torture devices. 'Well this is it...'

Baener trotted over to Breach's side to "secure his bonds". Striking Breach, hard enough to shift the stallions chin but light enough to not harm him too much, Baener slipped a key into the daemons mouth. The stallion looked at him suspiciously, sending chills through Baener’s spine. Baener nodded ever so slightly and walked away.

'Trixie! I'm going to kill the witch. How dare she threaten Twilight!' Dash struggled against her bonds. They were rubbing her ankles raw but she didn't care. Now Bow was going to be killed too, but no, this was not going to happen so long as she was alive. Feeling one bond slip she furiously worked on the others. Finally breaking free, Dash tore into action, ripping her gag off she charged Trixie.

This day was getting better and better, now she had Bow, and her best assassin was back under her rule. Nothing could possibly go wrong. She walked over to Bow, standing over her. She was about to explain exactly how her device worked, and what pain it would cause, when she found herself bowled over by a chromatic blur. Immediately regaining footing she used her magic to secure Rainbow Dash, who had broken out of her bonds. "Oh, well then, I guess I’ll just kill you first then!"

"The Buck you will, get off my sister!"

Trixie turned her head to the direction of the shout, seeing none other than....

Scootaloo raced through the crowd virtually unnoticed. As she got closer she noticed a burst of colours. 'Give 'em Tartarus Dashie!' Scoots did her best to double time, but her left hind leg just refused to work. Finally she cleared the crowd to find Dash pinned by... Trixie? Whatever Dash needed her. She heard Trixie’s blatant proclamation, and enraged that her friends and her newly adopted sister were to be harmed, she screamed out against the world. Spinning around she did her best to buck a small stone at the evil mare. Miraculously her aim rang true, and the stone scored a deep gash against Trixie's cheek.

Seeing the commotion Baener jumped into action. Downing two guards closest to him he shouted 'Now' and the crowd burst into a frenzy.

Breach immediately undid his bonds just as Shining Armour burst onto the stage. The two stallions set themselves to work, first by breaking the bonds of the other ponies, then by tearing into the nearest soldiers.

The Elements loose, they immediately joined the fray. Working as a group, even Fluttershy, they fought to hold their position.

Rainbow Dash went straight for Scoots, grabbing her and getting her into the middle of the Elements. Landing next to Twilight, Dash joined in.

Big Mac and Braeburn went to work on the attackers, their powerful bucks sending the offending outlanders flying. Cheerilee grabbed a nearby stick, working it like a fencing master. Derpy knocked over a torture device, causing it to collapse into a group of attackers.

Baener and Siobhan worked as a team alongside Bow, constantly spinning, the three ponies fell into a pattern of striking similar to that of what Bow and Breach had done.

The escaped slave, Equestrian soldiers, and rebel outlanders smashed into the flank of the true outlanders, fighting their way towards the stage.

"So Shining, this time it you saving me, eh?" "Guess so Breach, I sure you had it all in hoof, but I didn't think you'd care too much."

A deafening roar suddenly got everyponys' attention. "Yeah, Tavi, work that D chord!" "You got it Vinyl!"

Octavia had her cello plugged into the bass cannon. The two musically inclined mares started blasting outlanders left and right.

The Elements broke into sub groups, Fluttershy and AJ breaking off to help Braeburn and Big Mac, Pinkie and Rarity fighting back to back.

Twilight, Rainbow and Scootaloo held the right side of the stage. Unable to keep up with her speed, outlanders were downed left and right by Dash. Twilight used her magic to take down any outlands unicorns she saw. Scoots, using any move she still could from her stunt repertoire, set about anypony who tried to clear the side of the stage.

The rebelling group soon realized that it was outnumbered. They'd started the fight, but there were too many outlanders.

"We can't hold them off, can we get anypony out of here?" urgently questioned Shining. "We could try, but on top of the fact that nopony would want to leave their friends, any escaping ponies would be put down too fast." "You're right Breach. If this is the end, I'd like to apologize for my behavior to you and Bow." "Not a problem Shining, you just wanted to protect your family."

"Breach! Have you seen Trixie?" inquired Bow. "No, she disappeared the second the fighting broke out."

The fight was getting desperate. Goodly ponies fell on all sides. Braeburn and Derpy had been dragged into the middle of the stage due to injuries, joining an already swelling amount of those incapable of fighting.

Breach was having trouble maintaing his ground. The beating he'd taken the previous night, coupled with sheer exhaustion, was taking its toll. Bow found her way to him and helped him into the back before he collapsed. He was ok just too tired to continue. Rejoining the rank of fighter Bow determinedly kept the outlanders at bay.

Fluttershy rushed Rarity to the middle of the stage. The unicorn had taken a bad hit. Placing Rarity down next to an unconscious Pinkie Pie, Shy flitted about trying to help all she could.

Baener and Siobhan couldn't keep this up. Baener suddenly felt the mare’s weight on his side. Looking at Siobhan he realized she was out cold. He worked her towards the middle.

Shining Armour knew this was futile, but he wasn't about to give up. He watched in horror when he suddenly saw Twilight fall, but it was slightly abated as he saw Rainbow Dash rush her to the centre of the stage with the other wounded.

For no reason at all the attackers slacked off. The few defenders remaining standing took stock of their position.

Big Mac and Cheerilee were holding each other up. Fluttershy was back at Applejack’s side. Shining Armour was near collapse. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo stood side by side, flanks heaving from exertion; Scoots had it worse though, she had her wounded leg drawn up, not even touching the ground. Baener stood strong, but anypony could see the fight had left his eyes. Vinyl was getting Tavi towards the group of wounded, looking like she wouldn't be rejoining either.

That left Bow, standing centre front stage. Panting from exertion, banged up, one eye swollen, she stood her ground defiantly. She was ready to go down fighting.

Trixie stepped forward from the ranks of the outlanders, a bandage over her eye. She swore she saw the annoying little filly Scootaloo laugh at the sight of her bandage. "A brave, but foalish and futile attempt. As you can see, you ponies stood no chance at defeating us." declared the ecstatic Trixie.  "Now, I'm going to rule this excuse for a town, and you will all be my slaves, well those of you who I don't execute. Guards bring me that filly." Trixie ordered, pointing a hoof at Scootaloo.

"Try and reach for her and you'll bring back stumps!" shouted Dash, stepping in front of her adopted little sister. Bow joined her in seconds, followed by Shining, AJ, Shy, Big Mac, Cheerilee, and Baener.

"Ah, defiant to the last then I see." cackled the evil mare. "Fine then, I’ll just kill you all." Trixie continued nonchalantly.

"NOT IN MY KINGDOM YOU WON'T, TRIXIE!" Celestia came down from the sky, followed by Cadance and a group of corpsmen. "Cadance, see to the wounded, I have a foal to deal with!" Cadance rushed to the defender, getting to work on them.

"Celestia. I was wondering when you'd show up." stated a thoroughly unworried Trixie.

"I would've thought my arrival would worry you Trixie."

"Why would it, I know the secrets of your past that you tried to hide, how you and Luna came to power. You promised 'I will never raise my own hoof in Equestria's defense, so long as my sister and I can bring it peace this once.' I do believe that's how you ended the reign of Discord?" Hahahahaha!"

"You're right of course, I did promise never to raise my own hoof in Equestria's defense. I did so under penalty of death. But I see differently now. I look at these brave stallions and mares. I see that they understand something I never have. I see this filly Scootallo, who understands this more than all. I now understand that some things, friends, love, and peace, are ideals worth DIEING FOR!"

At this Trixie paled. She couldn't defeat Celestia and she knew it. She didn't know what to do. Eyes wide with fear she screamed at her followers to charge and kill them all.

Celestia released a powerful blast of magic. A spell to instantly rejuvenate every wounded defender. A spell to release the captured defenders in the town, and a spell that arced towards Trixie, striking the mare and obliterating her from existence. With this done, Celestia simply disappeared, crown falling to the ground.

The defending ponies saw the attack coming, but now they were ready. Those on the stage pushed back against the outlanders, who were both winded and disheartened, were easily forced back.

The Equestrian army, newly freed from their captors in Ponyville, charged into the flank of the outlander army.

Knowing they were outnumbered, it took seconds for the outlander forces to fall into a retreat. The main Equestrian army routed the enemy all the way to the sea, where the outlanders returned to their land in their boats.

Baener had taken his rebels and freed slaves and started a settlement about 6 miles outside Ponyville. From what Bow understood they were thriving, and Siobhan and Baener were to be married.

Scootaloo had gained her cutie mark during Celestia's speech, the outline of a pony, forelegs outstretched, mixed with that of a shield as if to block and protect somepony else. Her leg hadn't gotten much better, but that hadn't stopped her. With the gaining of her cutie mark, her wings had also matured. She and Rainbow Dash went out flying all the time now.

Rainbow Dash spent her time in between Scoots and Twi.

Twilight was spending her time trying to maintain the influx of Ponyville residents returning to their homes, and trying to deal with the loss of Celestia. She also helped Luna become accustomed to ruling both day and night time.

Shy and AJ set about repairing Sweet Apple Acres, with the help of Braeburn before his return to Appleloosa, and the aid of Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee who had started off a stable relationship.

Rarity did her best to return to normal life and taking care of Sweetie Belle.

Pinkie Pie had thrown nonstop parties for the most absurd reasons ever since the war ended. She tried to hide it, but she also was deeply saddened by the loss of Celestia.

Derpy left to Cloudsdale to take care of Ditzy in a more filly safe environment (and because she kept messing up repairs in Ponyville.)

Zecora had her hooves full taking care of ponies with continuing ailments.

Cadance and Shining Armour stayed and helped Ponyville as much as they could, but had to return to Canterlot to help quell the problem of Celestia's death, and prepare for the Queens funeral.

Vinyl and Tavi returned to check on Tavi's parents in Canterlot, and had become a huge musical phenomenon due to their parts in the battle.

That left Bow and Breach. They'd been staying together, helping where ever they could. It had been a couple of months, and Ponyville was well on its way back to being a normal town, despite the residents still returning every day.

Breach was constantly fussing over her any time she did something physical. Worried about their health and yes it was their health. It was barely obvious, but Bow had a small, almost invisible bump, to her belly. Pinkie was already underway setting plans for a "congratulations on finding out that your pregnant party." While they stallion and mare went about coming up with plans on getting married.

For now all was bliss.

"So Celestia, you finally broke the singular agreement." "Yes, and I'd do it again!" "We are sure you would Celestia, and for one always preaching about the lessons of friendship, it has taken you forever to figure this one out." came the reply. At this Celestia looked at the glowing orb questioningly. "Ah, I see you don't understand, our agreement long ago was not as a punishment, but a test. We felt that while you had everything to become a proper queen, you still had one trait missing. True sacrifice in the name of Love. You finally exhibited this trait when you gave your life out of love for the ponies you rule over. Congratulations." The orb glowed so brightly she found it impossible to see. When her vision returned she was in her room in the castle. 'I must go tell everypony, they've had to have been worried. This time though, I know how to truly rule a kingdom!'

Author's note: So this is my first story, I didn't do as good as I'd hoped but currently I am content with what I've got. I do plan on getting better and I also want to be clear, this was 'The Outlanders Trials' not "The Outlanders Life' so I do plan to continue the life of Breach and Bow. Also, if any over critical, read betwixt the line reader are out there, I do not condone premarital sex nor teen pregnancy, so don't start that with me. Well thanks for reading this far guys.

As always,

Stay Pony My Friends.