The shadows close in around me.

They whisper to me.

They know what I did. What I deserve.

I run, as far and fast as I can, away from the oppressive darkness behind me.

I let instinct carry my hooves as they fly over the curving ground, until I am on my back, flailing my legs to no avail.

I feel the darkness cover me.

First my hooves, then my tail, then I feel the tiny hooves press down on my throat, choking me, drowning me in darkness, until I feel nothing but the burning in my neck.

I look out to see my assailant, but see nothing more than a giant, blood-red ruby, floating in the darkness above me.

I sit, and pray that it will not fall, helpless to move away from it, but like my other prayers, it goes unanswered and the ruby comes hurtling towards my bloodshot eyes.

It falls, and falls, and falls as if in slow motion, but I know it’s not. I stare at it, letting it consume my vision, until all I see is red, and then the ruby crushes against my gaping maw.

And then-

*** *** ***

The sound of a great crash resounds through my Canterlot flat as the glass door to my bedroom balcony imploded. The wind had thrown it open with unforgiving force, shattering the delicate panes, and peppering my floor with beautiful shards.

‘For Celestia’s sake,’ I curse under my breath as I get up to brace the door back closed. Surprisingly, the lock survived the violent storm, and the doors close securely. However, in their newly damaged state, they offered substantially less protection from the furious skies. I set to work clearing the glass from the floor, and draping a blanket over the victimized door, to keep out the wind.

When the damage has been controlled, I peek at my bed in it’s disheveled, wind-torn state, and feel the tiny shadow hooves creeping across my neck once again.

I walk out, into my kitchen, and pour myself a cup of tea to soothe my nerves.

I hold the cup between my hooves and look down into the mottled water, watching the dark leaves dance around each other. In the dark of night it almost seemed as if they could be little colts and fillies, dancing without a care in the world. One by one they start to settle, laying still at the bottom of the cup.

*** *** ***

I wake up, sprawled over my kitchen table, dried drool still smeared across my snout.

“When did I get out here?” I wonder as I blink the sleep from my eyes. “Did something happen?”

I lift my head up and flinch as Celestia’s glory blinds me.

“Celestia is sure having an early day. It shouldn’t be this bright yet.”

My heart jumps, and I rush to my balcony to look towards the clock-tower, which reads 8:47.

The court is meeting at 9, and it is all the way in the center of town! I’ll never make it in time!

I run a comb through my hair and wash my face before I run out into the stairwell and frantically sprint through the streets of Canterlot.

Shopfronts fly past me in a blur as I charge down the street, unconcerned with the people I am leaving in my dust. As I approach an intersection, another mare, carrying a basket full of flowers rounds the corner. I stumble as my all-out sprint is interrupted, and have to dance around the poor florist. I take the opportunity to compose myself.

“Now, now, Rose. We musn’t lose ourself,” I chide myself inwardly. “Now, more than ever, I must control my emotions. One slip up, and everything is over.” I take a deep breath, and turn to the mare.

“Oh my. Excuse me ma’am, I have no idea what got into me.”

“Thats quite alright. I know how stressful mornings can be. Would you be interested in a flower,” the mare asked as she flashed the basket of her wares.

“Oh, thank you very much,” I say as I pull a bit out of, seemingly, nowhere. I toss it to her and pick out her deepest red rose, matching my mane, and tuck it safely above my ear.

I say goodbye to the mare and continue on my way with a calm determination, ready to face what awaited me in Celestia’s court.

*** *** ***

The doors of the Legislative Wing of Celestia’s palace tower above me. The first time I had seen these, they had left me fearful of their power, but now I have tasted their power for myself, and do not need to fear them.

I arrived at precisely 8:59, and as soon as the bell tower chimed that it was 9, I threw open the doors, and stared into the round room. Voices were aflutter, and almost nopony took notice of my entrance. I suppose that is for the better, considering what they were likely talking about.

The only pony who noticed was Quartz, my assisstant. She dashed over to me, and, before I could even say hello, she was spouting off questions faster than I could process most of them. Through the sensory overload of her frantic prattle, I knew what it was all building towards before she even started.

“Oh my god, Rose! Did you hear about what happened? I don’t know how you couldn’t hear, it’s the only thing anyone is talking about, but it’s so awful I can’t even believe it. How could he do such a thing? He has kids and everything? I know things were rough and all, but nobody expected him to go and do that! And I can’t even-”

“Whoa, Quartz. Calm down. What are you talking about?” I asked, feigning ignorance and concern. “Who did what?”

She looked at me in surprise, then, with tears in her eyes, she told me exactly what I already knew.

“Oh Rose, it’s absolutely awful! You know Loupes, the old stallion that owns all those jewelry stores? Well apparently, he was found dead in his office last night. Nopony knows what really happened happened, but everybody is saying that he-he-he-” she begins to stutter, obviously breaking down under the pressure to regale such a harrowing tale.

I put on a sympathetic expression and wrap my hooves around her neck to bring her into an embrace. “Shhh. It’s alright Quartz, it’s alright.” I let her sob into my shoulder until she calms herself enough to finish her sentence. Once the sobs break, she leans up to my ear and whispers, “They’re saying that he killed himself!”

I hold her tighter, letting out a gasp, and letting her continue to regain her composure.

We stay like this until we hear the bell at the head of the room sound. We both jump at the sudden obtrusive noise over the hall full of whispers and muttered words. We move to sit down at our seats for the beginning of court, and once the entire room is settled, we see Celestia emerge from behind a throne at the head of the room.

“My trusted advisors,” she begins in her bellowing tone, “I am sure that you have heard the dark news about our dear friend Loupes. It is truly a tragedy, what happened to him. Both his unfortunate circumstances, and the lack of support from his friends and family when he needed it most. I only wish his son did not have to Unfortunately, the world may not stand still to mourn him. We must remain strong as the leaders of this country, and continue moving forward with confidence, in the wake of his passing,” she pauses, for emphasis, before breaking the tension in the room. “That being said, I would like to hold a moment of silence in his honor, before we proceed with today’s business.”

Every head in the room turned downward. Some may have been regretting not helping him sooner, some may be wishing his orphaned son the best of luck, and quite a few were likely cursing the crotchety old stallion for his greed or attitude, but I was unique. I was the only one standing in this court, that felt both contempt and satisfaction.

Contempt for him. His memory, his very being, and contempt for every pony in this room that would dare to mourn the loss of one of the greatest menaces to Equestria. The satisfaction came in knowing that I got to watch the life fade from his eyes as he knew the pain that he has inflicted on countless others.

Author's Note

Will likely be making some edits in the near future. If you see any errors, please let me know.