The death penalty

  "AND YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP!" Yelled moon dancer. All of the pent up emotions broke free as she yelled at Twilight. Anger, sadness, loneliness, hatred, all of them broke out. At some point, she had picked up a stick and was now waving it around like a mad mare. The stick soared through the air, charged to the brim with magical energy, as Moon dancers emotions peaked. Her eyes flashed white, as did her magic. Then the stick hit something solid.

"AAAHHHHH!"

    Moon dancer gasped and suddenly dropped the stick. The gardens went completely silent as Twilight crumpled. The other three mares ran off screaming, and spike ran to Twilight.

  "Twilight!" He yelled, trying to get a reaction from her. Moon dancer hadn't moved. She just stood stalk-still, staring. A small amount of blood began to trickle from the small gash in her neck and onto the grass.

"What did you DO!?!?" yelled spike, a green glowing in his eyes. He still had tears on his face, but those soon evaporated from the growing heat coming from his scales.

"AAAAAH!" Screamed Spike, lunging at Moon dancer. Just as the tips of his claws were about to make contact with her face, he was gripped in a gray aura. Moon dancer opened her eyes just as Spike was closing his. Moon dancer looked up to see no less than a dozen guards.

"Don't worry ma'am." Said the closest guard with a deep voice. "I've cast a sleep spell on him. Can't imagine what could've made him go so crazy and attack the Princess. Are you injured? Ma'am? Ma'am?" Asked the guard. Moon dancers mouth opened like she was about to say something, but she fell over and blacked out before she got the chance.

                                                                          ***

    When Moon dancer awoke, she was lying in a hospital bed. She was just sitting up when a nurse walked in.

"How are you feeling?" She asked kindly.

"I have a really bad headache" replied Moon dancer. She than gasped as she recalled what happened. "Oh Celestia! What happened to Princess Twilight? Is she okay?" The nurse lowered her eyes at the question.

"She's still alive, for the moment. She's being operated on right now by the best doctors in Equestria. Real nasty injuries. Broken neck, internal bleeding, and she also broke her jaw and wing when she fell onto the concrete"

The nurse took note of how pale Moon dancer had become, and added: "she'll get better".

"What about her dragon?" This time, a shadow clearly crossed the nurse’s face.

"For attacking the princess... he... he's on death row." Moon dancer gasped and quickly jumped up.

"I need to talk to the lawyers working on his case. Hay, I need to talk to the Princess'!" With that, Moon dancer ran out the door and down the hallway.

                                                                     ***

   "What do you mean I can't talk to them!?" Yelled Moon dancer at the guards outside of the throne room.

"Please calm down, ma'am. Princess Luna is sleeping, as she usually does at this time of day, and Princess Celestia is in the medical ward. She is not to be disturbed." He added, seeing Moon dancers eyes dart in the direction of the medical ward.

"Please" she begged. "This is about what happened to Princess Twilight!"

"Any information on the case will be passed onto the Princess' as soon as possible"

"No, you don't understand! This will change the entire case! The Princess needs to know NOW!"

"What is so important that it can't be told to the guards?" Said Celestia, rounding a corner. The guards all tensed and bowed deeply. "At ease. Now, what could be so important, Moon dancer?"

"You know my name?” said a shocked Moon dancer.

"Of course. You were my second best student when you were attending my school for gifted unicorns, behind only Princess Twilight. Now, will you please explain what I must hear?"

"C-could we go somewhere more... private?"

"Of course" said Celestia, walking into the throne room.

"We are not to be disturbed" she said to a guard, just before she magically closed the large doors.

"So. Will you please explain now?" Said Celestia, turning and sitting in her high throne.

"The dragon, Spike, didn't attack Princess Twilight. You can't kill him! He's innocent!"

Celestia smiled knowingly.

"I knew he wouldn't ever do anything like that. But who did? Do you know who did it, Moon dancer?"

"No!" Said Moon dancer a bit too quickly, causing celestia to raise an eyebrow. Moon dancer lowered her gaze to the floor, not able to hold eye contact.

"You know, Moon dancer, I have been known to show mercy to ponies who confess themselves."

Moon dancer chanced a quick glance up, and regretted it. Celestias usually warm, kind gaze was stone cold. Moon dancers lips quivered and tears fell from her face and onto the floor.

"I-if this pony were to confess, what would be the worst thing that could happen?"

"Well, if the case were brought to me, which it will be, the worst outcome would be twenty-five years in prison. If Twilight ends up fine. If Twilight were to... not make it... the worst thing would be the death penalty. But that would be the worst outcome. Twilight’s condition is looking up, and her vitals are stable. Twilights testimony will be very important on what will happen to yo- that pony. The most I can do currently is prolong the case. Now, do you know who might've done this?" Pressed Celestia once more. More of Moon dancer’s tears fell, splattering quietly against the floor. To her, they sounded like rocks dropping from the ceiling.

"Yes!" Sobbed Moon dancer "It was me! But I swear, it was an accident! Please! You have to believe me! I-I was just so angry, and I was waving a stick that Twilight had given me, and I just lost control of my magic for a second, and, and... It hit Twilight. Then she just crumpled to the ground!" Moon dancer cried for a minute, before taking a deep breath.

"I didn't mean it. I just felt so angry and betrayed at the way that she just left us, and never explained. I had been denying them for so long, and then the dam just broke, and I couldn't stop. I lost control. I'm sorry" said Moon dancer with a few final tears. Celestia opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by a hollow pop and burst of light. When her vision cleared, Moon dancer saw a letter floating in front of Celestia. Celestia took the note in her magic and opened it. The more she read, the bigger and more relieved her smile got.

"Moon dancer" said Celestia, standing quickly and causing Moon dancer to jump and stumble backwards.

"Follow me. I have some pony else that you should apologize to. Follow me." And with that, Celestia strode out of the throne room, Moon dancer following close behind.

                                                                     ***

Moon dancer flinched every time she saw a guard. Even though she was walking behind one of the strongest ponies to live. If not the strongest. Every guard they walked past made her feel like she would be arrested by them at any time. The pair walked slowly, and Moon dancer wanted to ask where they were going, but her mouth wouldn't open. Princess Celestia stopped, and Moon dancer unceremoniously ran into her rump. Celestia barely flinched as Moon dancer fell backwards.

"Hello Princess" said a nurse, bowing deeply.

"Hello, Redheart. May we see the patient?" Asked Celestia.

"Of course. It will just be the two of you, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, just keep things down. The patient is still recovering. Her room is straight ahead"

"Thank you"

Celestia craned her neck back and looked at Moon dancer, whose eyes were still puffy.

"Shall we?"

"Princess, who are we seeing?"

"You're a smart mare, Moon dancer. I would've thought you'd figured it out by now." Celestia turned and walked into the room that had been pointed out by Redheart. Moon dancer stood there for a second, stunned by the complement she had been given. Celestia, the immortal goddess of the sun and holder of infinite wisdom, knowledge, and power, had called her smart. Moon dancer shook her head to clear it and followed Celestia.

     She   walked through the doors and saw Celestia leaning over a bed. Moon dancer walked forward and saw that it was Twilight lying in the bed. She looked bad. She had a neck brace that extended around her muzzle and her usually shiny fur had been shaved off of some of her exposed skin. She had many bruises on the side of her face that she had fallen on. Her eyes were also horribly bloodshot. She shifted awkwardly when she saw Moon dancer. When she shifted, Moon dancer saw the tip of a purple wing poke out from under her blanket. The thin blanket showed that her wing was also in a cast.

     Moon dancer looked at Celestia and saw that her horn was glowing and she and Twilight were keeping eye contact, not blinking. As Moon dancer watched, Celestias brow furrowed and she shook her head. Moon dancer realized that they must have been communicating telepathically. Moon dancer’s eyes went wide in awe.

'The powers of an alicorn' she thought to herself. The room was completely silent before Twilight gave an exasperated sigh, wincing as she did so. Both alicorns magic went off, and Twilight stared at the wall.

"Twilight," began Celestia before being cut off when Twilight ignited her horn and telepathically communicated once more. Celestia's horn glowed brighter for a moment before going darker once more.

"Moon dancer, I brought you here for a reason. Do you remember what that reason was?"

Moon dancer looked up, startled.

"Y-yes" she said shakily before stepping closer to Twilights bed. "I know that in no way will this make up for what I did, but I'm so glad I got the choice to say that from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry."

Twilight rolled her eyes, as if to say: 'yes, Moon dancer that makes everything better. Let's go and share some cake at sugar cube corner!' She looked at Celestia and ignited her horn.

"No, Twilight. I'm not going to talk for you. I gave you a voice, use it" stressed Celestia.

"Fine" said Twilights voice, seeming to come from all directions. Moon dancer flinched.

"If you couldn't tell," said Twilights voice, coldly. "I was asking Celestia to ask you to leave. I don't want you here"

Twilight turned her head again, looking away from Moon dancer.

"Please. I can understand you being mad, but at least talk to me". Twilight went quiet for a minute.

"I want to see Spike." She said adamantly. The room went quiet again. "Where is he? I need to talk to him."

"Twilight" said Moon dancer softly, after she realized that Celestia wasn't going to say anything. "He-he... for now, he... the guards, they.."

"Spit it out!" Boomed Twilights voice.

"He got the death penalty. The-the guards thought he went crazy and attacked you" said Moon dancer quickly. Twilights eyes bored through Moon dancer. Moon dancer lowered her gaze and backed towards the door. As a unicorn, Moon dancer could feel a strong tingle in her horn. It made her head ache. This was a sign of all of the anger pouring off of Twilight. Moon dancer put a hoof to her horn, but the feeling grew stronger until Moon dancer was on the floor, writhing in agony. Even Celestia sat, holding a hoof to her own horn. Some muffled shouts could be heard outside of the door, a sign that her anger was affecting the unicorns outside as well. Twilights gaze turned to Celestia.

"How could you let them kill him!?" She screamed at her.

Moon dancer’s eyes opened a bit, only to see that the purple alicorn was now a scorching white. Her mane, tail, and wings were all fire. Her wounds had apparently healed, and all of her casts had burnt off. It was getting extremely hot in the room. Long scorch marks stretched up the walls, and objects were flying in circles around the room.

"Twilight!" Gasped Celestia. "He-he isn't dead! He's just on death row!" This caused an instant change. All of the objects instantly dropped, and the heat in the room dropped to a more manageable temperature. The pain in their horns diminished as well, but there still remained a light ache. Twilights coat had also darkened back to its original purple color. Her mane also fell back to its original shape, but still flickered now and then. As Twilight returned to normal, her wounds returned. She had been floating, Moon dancer now noticed, but Twilight's broken wing soon gave out, and she fall back onto the floor. But just before she hit the stone, Celestia quickly levitated her back onto the bed.

    Celestia started to add casts and bandages where they had been burnt off, using her magic to help close wounds and stop bleeding where it was needed. The room was still a mess, but it felt cold and bleak in the absence of all of Twilights magic and heat. Celestia looked down at Twilight sadly, but also shocked. Moon dancer noticed that Celestias pure white coat had some black streaks on it.

"P-princess, are you okay?" Asked Moon dancer timidly. Celestia looked down as if she were only just noticing the wounds.

"Yes. I'm fine. They were made when some of the objects collided with me. They were apparently super-heated as well. Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah, just a headache"

The room went quiet for a while.

"I...I never knew she held such power." Said Celestia quietly, without looking up. Moon dancer looked up curiously.

"B-but didn't she get it from her anger? Because when unicorns and alicorns get angry, it fuels their magic and they get that magic boost, but only if they're really powerful"

"Moon dancer, I already know that you're smart. You don't have to try and convince me. But no, she did not get it from her anger. That was all her own magic. I believe that she has cast a spell on herself that makes it so she cannot take magic from her rage. The last time that happened was... bad. She said she never wanted to have that happen to her again. And as a powerful pony, I have a very sensitive magic sense. Trust me that was all of Twilights natural power."

Moon dancer’s mouth fell agape as she stared at Twilight. How could this one young pony hold so much natural power?

"Moon dancer. I think we should leave. I have much to talk to you about"

Celestia used her magic to pick up the room a bit before teleporting the two of them back to the throne room.

"So," asked Celestia. "Are you going to confess? I could get you down to five years, tops. It would be lower if we can get Twilight on our side"

"Yes, I'll confess. I don't even care how long I get. Whatever it is, I deserve worse. I'm a terrible pony. Why would I do that? I just feel...terrible. Awful. Just... gross."

"Moon dancer, I need to let you know something. Twilight, as you just saw, is very powerful. She is already almost as strong as I. And one day, she will be many times stronger. Her namesake was not a coincidence. My sister are night and day. Twilight is what comes between night and day. Something pure, gentle, powerful. Much more powerful than night or day. Twilight herself is all of these things. Pure, gentle, powerful, and much more powerful than my sister or I. Can you understand why that would be catastrophic, to lose that much magic? It would have unseen consequences on Equestria and beyond. Do you see what would have happened if Twilight had not made it?"

"Yes" whispered moon dancer. "I-I'm sorry"

"Good. I had to make sure you understand the weight of what you did. You also have to understand that it wasn't entirely your fault." Moon dancer looked up, puzzled.

"You saw how Twilight lost control just now?"

"Y-yes"

"Well, it wasn't much different from what just happened to you. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies and alicorns alike poses magic, they just use it differently. Unicorns can channel it through their horns, as can alicorns. Pegasi use it to move clouds and change the weather. Earth ponies use it to make plants and crops grow stronger and faster than they would if another race had planted it. All of these ponies can also lose control of their magic when they feel intense emotions. This is what happened with you, and with Twilight. This even happened to my sister Luna when she became Nightmare moon. It has also happened to me at a few points in my long life. It's hard to explain, but it is entirely possible. And it is what happened to you. Now, let's go and get Spike off of death row."

                                                                   ***

"But, Princess, we cannot just releas-"

"In the name of the princess," boomed Celestia, using the royal Canterlot voice so all could hear. "Spike the dragon is cleared of all charges". The guard grimaced, lowering into a bow.

"Yes, your majesty". It had been almost half an hour of haggling between the guard and Celestia before she finally resorted to using her trump card. The guard moved over to a cell and unlocked it.

"You've been cleared of all charges. You're free to go. Spike walked out of the cell, but stopped when he saw Celestia.

"Princess! Is Twilight okay!?"

"Yes, Spike. She suffered from some wounds, but they are healing faster than expected. Follow me to the throne room" she said before quickly turning and walking back out of the dungeon.

                                                                             ***

"Twilight!" Said Spike loudly, running over to the bed.

"Hi spike! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Sheesh! What happened to this room!? It's a mess!"

"Well, it's a long story" said Twilight with a blush. The two hugged tightly for a long time.

"Twilight" said a soft voice from the door. Twilight cracked an eye open, only for it to squint into a glare when she saw Moon dancer.

"Spike. Can you give us a second?"

"Oh, um, sure. Just call me back in later" said Spike, boosting himself off of the bed. Moon dancer waited until Spike left the room to approach Twilight. Twilight, expecting her to start talking about whatever, was shocked when she lowered herself down into a low bow. She started talking without getting back up.

"I'm not bowing because you're a princess. I'm bowing because I'm such a lesser pony. I don't deserve to be in your presence. I don't deserve to live. I was planning on turning myself is, despite what Celestia chooses. I'm probably going to get the death penalty, which I deserve. I'm sorry". And with that, Moon dancer stood and turned, head down and walked towards the door.

"Wait!" Yelled Twilight. "Come back!"

Moon dancer turned, confused.

"Yes, Princess?" She asked quietly.

"Don't. I forgive you. It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have left you all like I did. I'm sorry. And even if you did confess, I would clear your charges."

Moon dancer giggled.

"Help me up" said Twilight.

"Are you sure, can you get up?"

"Yeah, alicorns heal quickly"

"Okay, here" said Moon dancer, holding out a hoof.

"Spike!" Called out Twilight. Spike walked in eagerly, practically running to Twilight. Twilight magically grabbed him, setting him carefully on her back before trotting out of the room, Moon dancer following close behind.

    A royal guard was patrolling the corridors before hearing a shrill shriek come from Celestias royal chambers. He ran as quickly as he could, knocking loudly before opening the door. Inside, Princess' Celestia, Luna, and Twilight were all sitting in a circle along with Moon dancer and Spike. They were all on the floor rather than the large bed, a piece of cardboard between them with small pieces of medal on different squared stretching around the board. 'PONYOPOLY' was printed in large letters in the middle. Four large sleeping bags and a small basket were tossed to the side with large pillows everywhere. The four ponies and one dragon were all in different states of laughter. Spike was on the floor, gasping for breath. The royal sisters were on their backs, laughing loudly. Princess Twilight and Moon dancer were clinging to each other, giggling wildly with tears flowing out of their eyes. The guard smiled and slowly closed the doors, leaving the group to have their fun for the night.