The Equestrian Scrolls: Earth

My heavy eyelids tried to stay close as my body started to wake up. ‘No, please don’t. I don’t want to return.’ I was dreaming of the world they spoke about in the old scrolls back in Cloudsdale, my home town. It was maybe a thousand years since ponies had the privilege of living in that beautiful world.

“Ah, you’re waking up.” A voice said. I still tried to deny my waking. “Come on, we both know you’re awake.” My eyes fling open.

‘Dammit, I’m awake!’ I didn’t want to be.

“What’s wrong, friend? You’ve been mute even before you fell asleep. You could at least tell me your name.” I look towards the source of the voice.

“Hex.” I finally say.

“Ah, so you’re alive. Well, nice to meet you Hex, and it’s been nice knowing you.”

“Where are they taking us?” I ask.

“Those damn Earth Ponies are gonna chop our heads off.” I look to the source. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“You crossed the border, just like Hex here. Unicorns and Pegasi aren’t allowed in Earth; and you didn’t have any permission from a Jarl.”

“What did you do?”

“I was a commander in the Unicornian Marines. My crew was set free in exchange for my capture.”

“What about him? He’s an Earth Pony too.”

“Ah, Bright Diamond, former Jarl of Los Pegasus. He used a strange force known as ‘The Voice’ to kill his subjects.”

I smiled and said, “What? Is he just really bad at singing?”

He looked at me and said, “Hex, this is no time for making jokes.”

There was a pause of silence before the other one said, “That explains why his mouth is covered and not ours.”

The streets of Appalooza were surprisingly empty. I remembered being here a long time ago and ponies being everywhere.

“Where is everypony?” I ask.

“Execution is never good, even for the ones performing it.”

“You make it sound like it’s just a show.”

“To some, it is.” The carriage pulls up to a block next to a wooden box. ‘This is it, the end of the line. My only regret is that I didn’t get to see my mother.’ We were directed out of the carriage.

“Earth Ponies and their damn lists.”

An earth pony holding a clipboard called, “Commander Fire Brand of Unicornia! Step forward!” The stallion, apparently named Fire Brand, took a few steps forward and was directed to the block. “Note of Pegastopolis, step forward!”

Note shook free and yelled, “You can’t do this to me!” He started running, not an easy task with hoofcuffs. He didn’t get far before getting shot down by a few arrows.

“And you… who are you?”

I gulped and said, “Hex of Pegastopolis.”

They started whispering towards each other. “What do we do? He’s not on the list.”

“Forget the list. He’s here for a reason and that reason and that can’t go without punishment.”

“Fine then.” A couple ponies directed me towards the block.

“You better pay your respects to the gods, or you’ll be seeing a life in Tartarus.” I don’t hesitate. I bow my head, close my eyes, and pray that my sins would be forgiven. I was so caught up in the moment, I didn’t hear the name of the first pony to be killed.

And I almost didn’t catch the loud roar that came from above.

I flung my eyes open and looked around. A young unicorn was placed on the block, an Earth Pony was using its hooves – how do they use those things? –  to hold a giant axe, and everyone was looking around, trying to figure out what had it was.

“What the hell was that?” An armored Earth Pony had asked.

“That doesn’t matter, on with the execution.” The Earth Pony holding the axe took a minute before raising the axe. He lowered it upon the Unicorn’s neck. All I heard was the axe hitting the block as I quickly looked the other way.

‘You heartless bastards! I’ll chop YOUR head off.’ I won’t, even if I walk away safely. Killing isn’t something I’d do, unless it were life or death. And even still, it’d be hard, emotionally and physically.

I feel hooves grab me and pull me towards the block as I lay down on it without hesitation. I close my eyes and prepare for the worst.

The repeated roar extends my life shortly. I know there’s no point in doing anything.

“Wait, there! In the clouds!”

I look up and I finally see what’s causing the roars.

It’d be hard to miss a flying, purple lizard.