'I should be dead.'

That was the first thought to cross the Punisher's mind as he felt his consciousness return to him. He remembered fighting Tirek, shooting him dead, being practically ripped apart by Twilight and finally, shooting a child. That act alone had driven Punisher to putting his own gun under his jaw and planning on ending it all. To finally punish a criminal that had spent too long avoiding his punishment.

'But I hurt like hell and can taste blood in my mouth. And I'm fairly certain that if I went to heaven, I wouldn't be feeling pain. And if I went to hell, it would hurt infinitely worse than this. So where am I?'

Daring to see what had become of him, Punisher opened his eyes. His eyes widened slightly when he saw that he was suspended twenty feet in the air, pinned to some kind of machine. His arm and legs were both incased in metal, a metal that he knew he wouldn't be able to break through. He pulled once just to test it, but found that only his right arm responded. The left one was still gone. Then he looked down to see that there was a large and very thick sheet of glass in front of him, one that had a certain purple alicorn on the other side.

"So, you've finally woken up," Twilight said in a dry tone to Punisher, who sighed as he leaned his head back as far as it could go.

"Purgatory it is. Why are you here, Twilight? And why am I alive? Last time I checked, I was trying to put an end to a criminal that has plagued your world for too long," Punisher said to Twilight, who smirked at Punisher's words before pulling up a seat for herself.

"See, that's where you lost me on what goes on inside your head. At first I thought you were a bloodthirsty monster. Then I thought you were a broken spirit that killed to try and make up for what happened to his family. Then I thought you were the reaper himself. And now here we are, you in a prison like this after trying to kill yourself...because you shot Spike. Why?"

"I didn't mean to shoot him. During our scuffle, I-"

"Don't bullshit me Punisher, you know what I meant. Why did you try to kill yourself?"

"Heh, no longer putting up with my lies. Seems you have learned a thing or two," Punisher smirked before the weight of his actions weighed upon him once more. "I shot a child, Twilight. A completely, innocent being and I nearly killed him. All because I wanted to get away, to avoid my fate like I always have. But if my quest to punish the guilty means that I would do the very same thing that was done to my family...then I deserve to die. I deserve to be punished."

"So you actually felt genuine guilt for shooting Spike. Got to admit, I thought that you were beyond guilt for your actions," Twilight put forward.

"I don't feel a thing for the criminals I punish. But for the innocent that I hurt...my turn for a question, Twilight. Why did you save me?" Punisher asked, getting Twilight to raise an eyebrow. "You probably stopped the bullet with magic or some bullshit like that, I don't doubt it. What I don't understand is your reason for doing so. You said it yourself. I deserved to die."

Twilight didn't answer Punisher right away. Instead she leaned back in the chair and stared at him for a while, long enough for Punisher to observe her as well. He couldn't sense any anger coming from her nor could he sense the disdain that she often showed towards him. But when he looked into her eyes he found for the first time she wasn't looking at him like he was a killer or that he was someone that needed to be saved. She was looking at him.

"You did. At least, in that moment you did. Yet when you shot Spike, we both knew it was an accident. I was going to tear the rest of your limbs off, but it was an accident none the less. Then I saw it in your eyes. Guilt. Regret. Horror. And they were the most genuine emotions I've ever seen on your ugly mug," Twilight said in a stern voice.

"A monster wouldn't feel guilt for hurting a child. A being that killed every criminal in his path without batting an eye wouldn't put a gun to his chin for nicking a child's arm, an accidental shot at that. But it broke you. Shooting Spike destroyed the Punisher that I've come to know. Why?"

"...because I made a promise on the graves of my families. That I would punish every criminal like the ones that had taken their lives. But I also made a vow to never take the life of an innocent and never dare to fire upon a child, even if they deserved it. Because if I did...I would finally become the very same being like the ones I punished. I would be the monster that made me. And I crossed that line and moved myself to the top of my list. I became the criminal that needed to punished the most. So what are you waiting for? Punish me."

Twilight took another moment after that, but this time she kept her head low and didn't look Punisher in the eyes. But it was a look Punisher knew well. Many criminals did it right before he killed them. She was looking inside at herself. At her actions. At who she was.

"...you were right about me also. About me quitting too easily," Twilight replied after that moment of silence, getting Punisher to raise his head to look at the pony. "I was ready to call it quits because I thought that I wasn't really making a difference. That I could do more as a princess than a pony that helped those like...well, you. But now I see that was just an excuse for me to give up."

"But because I've met you, I realize I can't give up. Because I know see what giving up can do to a pony. Giving up on your dreams, your morals...yourself, would turn me into somepony like you. Somepony that is just a mistake away from becoming the very thing they hate. If I gave up, then who would help those like you?"

"Twilight, I don't want or deserve your help...after what I did-"

"I'd say you deserve it all the more," Twilight cut in, locking eyes with the Punisher so that he could see how serious she was. "Your guilt over hurting Spike, the fact that you nearly took your life after doing so, showed me something that I had never thought I would see. That you have a soul. It's small, its broken and it barely sees use anymore, but it's still in there. And even with everything you've done, all the lives you've ruined and beings you've hurt, your soul still won't die. Frank Castle won't die."

"You want him to be dead because it makes what you do easier. But Frank, if he's anything like you, is too stubborn to die. That's why you respect Spike. That's why it drove you to suicide when you hurt him. Because Frank Castle, the father, is still in there. And he still feels the pain of watching his baby child die...and child that did nothing wrong...and would never inflict that kind of pain on anypony else. Because he knows there's no worse pain than that."

Punisher was silent for a long time, thinking over what Twilight had said to him. 'Maybe she's right. Maybe Frank is still in me somewhere. But it doesn't matter. I've made up my mind. If she won't let me die, then I'll go back to punishing the guilty. It's what I do.'

"Even if what you said is true, it doesn't change anything. I'm still the Punisher. I still punish the guilty. And once I get out of here, I'll resume punishing those who kill the innocent...before I finally punish myself." The smile that Twilight gave Punisher in reply caught him off guard and for a moment he gave her a concerned look.

"Not happening. See, you were out for a long time. Long enough for me to think up a few ways to counter you. This cell is made entirely of the strongest metals in the land. This prison? You're the only prisoner in here, so there's no other criminals for you to hurt. The staff? All golems made of stone that are emotionless drones. Break them all you like, they just reform. Also there's the fact that this prison is really high up in the sky. And made of clouds, except for what you're strapped to. Only way you get out of here is if you can fly."

"That won't stop me," Punisher told her, but to his surprise she smiled. It wasn't a mocking smile or a condescending one. It was just a genuine smile.

"Maybe you will. I wouldn't put it past you. But then what? We've destroyed your guns, so you're weapons are gone. And you're left arm is most likely gone for good. Even magic can't fix what happened to it. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Discord is the warden of this prison? Which also happens to be in his dimension? No? Well, good luck dealing with all that."

"Why tell me all this? Why bother coming to meet me when I wake up? You've got me locked up. You've finally got me. Why come here at all?" Punisher asked, genuinely confused.

"Because like I said, Frank, I'm done giving up. I'm going to be both a princess of Equestria and a defender of harmony. I'm going to have fun with my friends and battle giant monsters that want to take over my world. And most of all I'm going to help that broken and cold soul of yours shine once more. You've shown me that no matter how far gone somepony might seem, there is always a spark. A spark of...humanity in them."

"And I needed to see that. I needed to see it from somepony like you. Who I thought was beyond saving. You've strengthened my resolve. In a way...the Punisher saved me. Saved me from going down a path I would hate to go down. So to thank you, I'm going to help you. I'm going to help Frank Castle. I'm not giving up on him. No matter how long it takes."

"Really? Because even if it is possible, it would still take an awfully long time," Punisher reminded her, but once again all Twilight did was smile at Punisher.

"Well, after what you did you're in here until the end of time. And I'm immortal, so I don't have to worry about ageing. So don't worry Frank, we've got all the time in the world. All eternity if need be. Now if you need me, I've got somewhere to be."

"Where are you off to?"

"Anger management classes. Seems that I've unintentionally learned a few things from you. But I'm trying to get better. And somewhere deep down, maybe you are to. Classes start at ten tomorrow morning. Looks sharp."

And with that Twilight rose from her chair and walked to the edge of the room, stopping to look back at Punisher and smile at him one last time before she walked through the wall. Punisher watched until the cloud reformed before he tugged at one of his restraints. Nothing. He then looked down to realize that the ground was made of cloud. He could almost see through it and on the other side he wasn't sure what he was looking at.

Then he thought of Twilight's words, but more importantly, the conviction in her eyes. For the first time since he'd met her, she finally had a look in her eyes akin to the heroes of his Earth. Like she knew for certain that she could help him become the man he once was. She had imprisoned him completely and even saved his own life, even if he didn't feel he deserved it. But most of all...she didn't just believe in him. She believed in herself. Believed, for the first time, that she really could save Frank Castle. And in the face of such conviction, conviction Punisher knew that even he couldn't break, Punisher chuckled.

"Not bad, Twilight," Frank smiled. "Not bad."

Author's Note

Maybe even the darkest of souls can find their way, if they have the right light guiding them. And maybe even those that feel they aren't worth saving deserved to be saved. Who knows. But as we move onto our next story, we go from a man seeking to punish criminals to a world needing of something more. Someone who will hear their prayers, someone who will tear asunder the heavens to save their lives. Someone that can give them comfort in knowing there is a divine being looking out for them. For in the next story, the ponies will realize that to have the powers of a god...

Means ye must be worthy.